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copper

Copper is a chemical element with the 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 pinkish-orange color. Copper is used as a conductor of heat and electricity, as a building material, and as a constituent of various metal alloys, such as sterling silver used in jewelry, cupronickel used to make marine hardware and coins, and constantan used in strain gauges and thermocouples for temperature measurement.
Copper is one of the few metals that can occur in nature in a directly usable metallic form (native metals). This led to very early human use in several regions, from c. 8000 BC. Thousands of years later, it was the first metal to be smelted from sulfide ores, c. 5000 BC; the first metal to be cast into a shape in a mold, c. 4000 BC; and the first metal to be purposely alloyed with another metal, tin, to create bronze, c. 3500 BC.In the Roman era, copper was mined principally on Cyprus, the origin of the name of the metal, from aes сyprium (metal of Cyprus), later corrupted to сuprum (Latin). Coper (Old English) and copper were derived from this, the later spelling first used around 1530.Commonly encountered compounds are copper(II) salts, which often impart blue or green colors to such minerals as azurite, malachite, and turquoise, and have been used widely and historically as pigments.
Copper used in buildings, usually for roofing, oxidizes to form a green verdigris (or patina). Copper is sometimes used in decorative art, both in its elemental metal form and in compounds as pigments. Copper compounds are used as bacteriostatic agents, fungicides, and wood preservatives.
Copper is essential to all living organisms as a trace dietary mineral because it is a key constituent of the respiratory enzyme complex cytochrome c oxidase. In molluscs and crustaceans, copper is a constituent of the blood pigment hemocyanin, replaced by the iron-complexed hemoglobin in fish and other vertebrates. In humans, copper is found mainly in the liver, muscle, and bone. The adult body contains between 1.4 and 2.1 mg of copper per kilogram of body weight.

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  1. johnd1881

    Copper driancock pipe lagging

    Hi, I wonder if I could have some advice please. I have a rental shepherds hut with an outdoor copper bath. I expect to close down for winter when the weather gets very cold. The majority of the piping is blue mdpe which is lagged. But where it joins the tap it's copper. I have lagged what...
  2. A

    Connecting To Old 3/4" Copper Pipe That's Smaller Than Usual

    Hi, I'm trying to connect 3/4" copper to 22mm copper in an old house. However it appears that the 3/4" is actually slightly smaller (measured at 21.1mm) than it normally is. This means I've been unable to use the special 3/4 to 22mm compression fittings as the olive is just too loose...
  3. M

    Bending 22mm coated copper

    Is there a way of bending 22mm coated copper with a bender without stripping back the coating?
  4. Z

    Green on copper pipes

    Just moved into an 18 month old property, and under the sink there is green on the copper pipes, it that normal?
  5. A

    12 x 1.6mm MLC to 15mm copper connection

    Hi will be using 12x1.6mm MLC for a project and would like to terminate into a fitting other than an UFH manifold, eg, regular 15mm copper. Can't seem to find a coupler for that - any ideas out there? cheers Andy
  6. safoostar

    Ok to leave thinset around copper pipe?

    I had a history at my home with the oring failing on my tub spout leading to water leaking through the pipe opening in the wall. I had put new o-rings but for extra precaution I sealed up the space around the pipe with thinset. This was about 10 months ago. Now I’m wondering if long term this...
  7. OscarSmith

    What kinds of plumbing pipes do I have?

    Hello. I'm new to this forum and I'm hoping to be able to learn some things as well as contribute as best I can. This might seem like an odd query, but I need to determine what kinds of plumbing pipes I have, and approximately what percentage of each type. I'd appreciate any help with this...
  8. A

    Green copper pipes, plumber didn't clean up flux after job

    I'm currently refurbishing a room. Plumber has been in for first fix to lay new pipework for new radiators. He's laid fresh copper pipe, however around the joints they are all green which I believe is flux residue he hasn't cleaned up after soldering. Not the cleanest of jobs but I'm not too...
  9. N

    Scrap copper tank clean up??

    On to the scraping side now! Is it worth bothering to remove insulation from old water tank and weigh in clean, or just take it down to the scrapper as it is?? ? Mnhjffhjbn
  10. M

    Shower head fittings for copper coonection

    I’m fitting an over head shower to an en-suite that I’m about to tile, I’m Struggling thinking about how to get the fittings flush to the tiles from the copper feed behind the boarding. Anyone any experience on the best way to sort this out? Cheers
  11. D

    Copper push fit connectors

    Hi Can anyone advise how the copper push fit connectors work? Is it a matter of just pushing in the pipe until it goes in as far as it can and are these connectors suitable for water and gas? Also I see that there is a special tool to release the connector if you get it wrong or not quite...
  12. A

    galvanised steel reducer to copper

    Hi Guys, I am looking to replace radiator as the old threaded valve is shot on this old building but it is attached to what looks like 1 inch galvanized steel. I was hoping to freeze the pipe at the bottom (see pic) cut and reduce into 15mm copper, any ideas if there is a suitable adaptor out...
  13. J

    Re-routing copper pipe in walls?

    Hi, remodelling a downstairs cloakroom and discovered that the old installation had the water pipe to the toilet through a copper pipe chased directly into the wall (not encased in anything like plastic piping). It's not leaking and the pipe doesn't seem to be corroded, but thinking it might be...
  14. C

    Copper pipes on block and beam

    Hi all. New to this. I Will Try and explain best I can. Large New build (2.5yrs old) with block and beam flooring. Then Membrane Then celotex Then membrane Wet system underfloor heating In approx 2-3” of screed I think Then tiled throughout 15mm Hot and cold copper pipes, felt lagged...
  15. A

    External copper pipe insulation

    I had a combi boiler fitted in the garage recently which has meant a lot of copper pipe external to the house and throughout the garage. Metres of it. None of it has been lagged what should I do and or have expected from the installer.
  16. S

    Drilling into copper HW tank.

    I'll be fitting a couple of Essex fl@anges to my HW tank soon. required hole is 38mm. I know these tanks are quite thin and can rip easily so what's the best way to drill them with a hole cutter?
  17. A

    Extend copper piping

    Hi, i made the daft decision to fit my own new bathroom - like for like replacement of suite, no moving pipes. i have reached thenpoint kf tiling over my shower pipes to fit my new shower and i think they are too short. They only protrude from the tile around 10-15mm and this needs to be at...
  18. S

    URGENT Upgrade gas supply line from galvenised steel to copper?

    I'm wondering if a failed gas line test indicates a gas leak. If so, is it a requirement to upgrade gas supply line from galvanised steel to copper? Would you replace all gas pipes? What would you be looking at in terms of cost in Victoria Australia?
  19. P

    Gas pipe under loft insulation.

    The copper gas pipe to my boiler in the loft runs between joists and sits on the plasterboard. I understand that it should not be covered by insulation. Why? Is it satisfactory to create a dome over the pipe with upside down guttering and then put fibreglass insulation over the top please?
  20. J

    Why hot water copper pipe is 22mm and cold is 15mm?

    Hi All, I have this silly question. Water pressure for hot water is a bit low while cold water has a decent pressure. Why do they put 22mm copper pipes for hot water? It seems detrimental for already low pressure. Best regards
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