Copper
is a chemical element with symbol Cu 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. 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.
