Copper

From Encyclopediak

Copper, a metal, brilliant reddish in color, and very ductile, malleable and tenacious. No doubt copper was the first metal employed by man in his arts of peace and war and that he found it extremely useful is indicated by many articles of copper and its alloys in the collections of many museums. Copper owes its name to the Island of Cyprus, the Latin for which is Cnprium, where the Romans and Greeks first obtained the metal. Its largest production now is Arizona, Michigan, Montana and Utah in tlie United States, where 60 per cent of the world's supply is obtained. The balance comes from Russia, Chile, Japan, Mexico, Australia, Spain, Portugal, Germany and Canada. Copper is nine times heavier than water. Next to silver it is the best conductor of heat and electricity. It is easily hammered, rolled or drawn into almost any shape required besides, it takes a brilliant polish. It is purified of its compounds by smelting, and is further refined by electrical processes. It does not rust like iron when exposed to water or salt air. Alloyed with other metals, it produces bronze, brass, German silver and gun metal. In its pure state alone it is used for cooking utensils, boilers, pipes, tubes, nails and wire. and as conductor and parts of electrical apparatus, lamps, etc. It is also employed in electroplating, for lightning rod conductors and for rollers for calico printing. Copper sulphate is used in electric apparatus, in dyes, and in medicine as an antiseptic. See BRONZE BRASS ALLOY ELECTROPLATING.