Copper (symbol Cu, atomic number 29) is an excellent conductor used in wiring, plumbing, and bronze since antiquity. It is classified as a transition metal and sits in group 11, period 4 of the periodic table.
Overview
Copper is the chemical element with atomic number 29 and the symbol Cu. With a standard atomic weight of 63.546, it is a transition metal. In the periodic table it occupies group 11 and period 4, and under standard conditions it is normally a solid. Copper is an excellent conductor used in wiring, plumbing, and bronze since antiquity.
Atomic structure
An atom of Copper has 29 protons in its nucleus and, when neutral, 29 electrons arranged in the configuration [Ar] 3d10 4s1. Its standard atomic weight of 63.546 reflects the natural mix of its stable isotopes.
Discovery and place in the table
Copper has been known since antiquity. It follows Nickel (Ni) and precedes Zinc (Zn) in order of atomic number.
| Atomic number | 29 |
|---|---|
| Symbol | Cu |
| Atomic mass | 63.546 |
| Category | Transition metal |
| Group | 11 |
| Period | 4 |
| Electron configuration | [Ar] 3d10 4s1 |
| Phase at STP | Solid |
| Discovered | Antiquity |