what is copper

Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a soft, malleable, and ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Copper has a pinkish-orange color when freshly exposed. It is one of the few metals that can occur in nature in a directly usable metallic form. Copper is used as a conductor of heat and electricity, as a building material, and as a constituent of various metal alloys. It is also an essential element for humans, as an adult human needs around 1.2 milligrams of copper a day to help enzymes transfer energy in cells. Copper-rich foods include dried beans, almonds, broccoli, and chocolate. Copper was the first metal to be worked by people, and it was the first metal to be smelted from sulfide ores, cast into a shape in a mold, and purposely alloyed with another metal, tin, to create bronze. Copper is also used in the medical field due to its antimicrobial properties.