COPPER

15 Fun Facts About Copper

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1. The Statue of Liberty is made from 179,000 pounds of copper.
2. The average home contains 400 pounds of copper that is used for electrical wiring, pipes and appliances. The average car has 50 pounds of copper.
3. All gold contains some level of copper, even 24 karat gold. This is because gold is so soft, it can be molded with the hands and calls for a bit of copper to be added.
4. Professional chefs prefer to cook with copper pots and pans, as it delivers uniform cooking and has no heat spots.
5. Copper is naturally antibacterial. Brass doorknobs, handrails and fingerplates are excellent choices for public buildings and will prevent the spread of bacteria.
6. Copper tools will not cause sparks, making them the tools of choice when working around explosives.
7. Copper is 100% recyclable and nearly 80% of the copper that has been produced is still in use today. Copper can continue to be recycled without any changes to its properties. In fact, it retains 95% of its original value.
8. Copper is often referred to as “man’s eternal metal”. It’s highly durable, long lasting and can be used in all applications of life.
9. The average person will use 1500 pounds of copper just to enjoy today’s standard of living. (Think computers, telephones, automobiles, etc.)
10. U.S. coins today consist of a solid copper core and layer of copper-nickel alloy.
11. A copper earthing system could save the lives of people who are struck by lightning, as well as save the homes and structures that are damaged from lightning strikes.
12. Copper has been used for as long as we can remember. The Egyptians had the ankh symbol to represent copper, and pyramids in Egypt used copper for water plumbing.
13. Copper can be alloyed with tin to make bronze and alloyed with zinc to make brass.
14. Although the Dead Sea Scrolls have been known to be made with rare animal skins, one that was recovered contains copper.
15. Copper is everywhere: TVs, radios, electrical wiring, plumbing, washers and dryers. It is often alloyed with zinc or tin to make brass or bronze, giving it a golden-like color.