Copper is a chemical element with symbol Cu (from Latin:cuprum) and atomic number 29. It is a soft, malleable and ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. A freshly exposed surface of pure copper has a reddish-orange color.
Three reasons Copper stands out
1
Used in electrical wiring.
2
It has natural antimicrobial properties that kill bacteria and viruses on contact.
3
Its exposed surfaces can develop a green coating over time.
The metal that wired civilization
Copper carries electricity efficiently while remaining ductile enough to draw into long wires. Exposure gradually creates protective green and brown surface compounds, as seen on old roofs and statues. Long before electrical grids, copper and its alloy bronze helped define entire eras of tools and art.
Recognizing Copper in Elementle
If Copper is the mystery element, guesses below atomic number 29 point up and guesses above it point down. Its symbol is Cu: a green letter matches the same position in that symbol, while a yellow letter belongs in another position.
The family clue turns green for transition metal guesses. Compare Nickel (Ni), number 28 and Zinc (Zn), number 30: they share the family clue, but their atomic numbers and symbols help you tell them apart.
Values are reference data, not a specification for every temperature, pressure, or allotrope. Unknown properties are left unavailable. Superheavy-element predictions remain uncertain.
The introduction and original editorial story are adapted from Wikipedia contributors via Periodic-Table-JSON. Element descriptions and their adaptations are available under CC BY-SA 3.0. Numerical attributes use the PubChem periodic-table dataset, retrieved September 22, 2026.