Copper

Copper







Want to learn about a very basic element that you are extremely grateful for (but might not know it)?

I'm sure you do. This element is copper, atomic number 29 on the periodic table of elements. It is a metal known for its malleability and conduciveness, perhaps one of the first metals to be used by humans. It is found in deposits around the world which are mined and then used in many products such as wiring in electronics (which include your precious cell phones and video games), piping, heating, and alloys such as bronze (Lewis, 2001; Considine, 2005).

Something else you probably didn't know about copper is that we actually use this stuff in our bodies! Copper naturally occurs in our environment in the soil, our water, and the food we eat, which our bodies use to transfer enzymes in energy cells. However, we only require about 1.2 milligrams per day, and if we absorb too much, it can become toxic and cause all sorts of health problems ranging from dizziness and headaches to kidney damage among other things. Also, high concentrations of copper in the environment can limit plant growth or be detrimental to farmland and animals (RSC, 2016; Lenntech, 2016).

Some people out there don't like how we get copper through mining. The process of mining can be bad for our environment if something goes wrong, and people often worry about the waste created from mining seeping into our rivers and lakes. Also, the increased retrieval of copper through mining and its use in so many products has caused large concentrations to be present in certain areas which would cause some of the environmental problems I mentioned before. These are legit concerns, but as long as the proper measures are taken to ensure that everything is kept clean and tidy, and that waste is disposed of in a safe manner, this shouldn't be too much of a problem, as we certainly need copper for many everyday products that we use (Jamasmie, 2015; Shaw, 2009).

Some alternatives for copper in products that we use include, other types of wiring, such as fibre optic cables, or different kinds of piping, but copper still has a distinct advantage in many products as it is so conducive and malleable (Pindar, 2015).

We can see that copper is very important. It is used in plenty of our everyday products, and our bodies also need it. Yet, it can be dangerous to retrieve it or if it gathers in large concentrations, but overall, we still need it in the world we live in, though we should still be aware of how it affecting the world around us.

References

Considine, G. D. (2005). Van Nostrand’s Encyclopedia of Chemistry 5th ed. John   Wiley & Sons. Hoboken, New Jersey.

Jamasmie, C. (2015). Reopening of controversial Spanish copper mine sparks heated debate. Mining.com.   http://www.mining.com/reopening-of-controversial-spanish-copper-mine-sparks-heated-debate-97872/

Lenntech (2016). Copper (Cu) – Chemical Properties, Health and Environmental   Risks. Online.   http://www.lenntech.com/periodic/elements/cu.htm

Lewis, R. J. (2001). Hawley’s Condensed Chemical Dictionary 14th ed. John Wiley & Sons. New York, New York.

Pindar, J. (2015). Is this the end of copper? Alternatives to copper cable. Webro. http://www.webro.com/alternatives-  to-copper-cable/

Royal Society of Chemistry (2016). Copper – Element Information, properties and Uses |Periodic Table. Online.   http://www.rsc.org/periodic-table/element/29/copper

Shaw, C. (2009). Copper Controversy. Capitol Report. Saint Paul Legal Ledger. Online.   http://www.sosbluewaters.org/Copper%20controversy.pdf