How Does Copper Affect The Body

The element copper can be found on the periodic table by looking at its atomic number which is 29. The element copper has a atomic mass of 63.546. Copper was one of the first metals altered by humans. The oldest metal object found in the Middle East consists of copper, it was a tiny awl dating back as far as 5100 B.C. Most copper occurs in ores and must be smelted for purity before it can be used. But natural chemical reactions do sometimes release native copper, according to Chemicool; this explains why humans have been making things from the metal for at least 8,000 years. People figured out how to smelt copper by about 4500 B.C., further increasing supplies. The next technological leap was creating copper alloys; by adding tin to copper, people …show more content…
The metal is also an essential trace mineral, crucial for forming red blood cells, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Fortunately, most everyone gets enough copper from foods such as grains, beans, potatoes and leafy greens. Too much copper is bad for the body. Ingesting high levels of the metal can cause abdominal pain and vomiting. Long-term exposure may lead to symptoms such as anemia, convulsions and diarrhea, which is often bloody and may be blue. Copper has antimicrobial properties and kills bacteria, viruses and yeasts on contact. As a result, copper can even be woven into fabrics to make antimicrobial garments, like socks that fight foot fungus. About two-thirds of the copper on Earth is found in igneous (volcanic) rocks. About a quarter occurs in sedimentary rocks, according to the USGS. The metal is ductile and malleable and conducts heat and electricity well, explaining its use in electronics and wiring.Copper turns green because of an oxidation reaction; that is, it loses electrons when exposed to water and air. The resulting copper oxide is a dull green. This oxidation reaction is the reason the copper-plated Statue of Liberty is green rather than