Overview

Copper was one of the earliest elements known to man. At one time, it could be found lying on the ground in its native state or uncombined state. Copper's distinctive red color made it easy to identify. Early humans used copper for many purposes, including jewelry, tools, and weapons.

Copper is a transition metal, one of several elements found in rows 4 through 7 between Groups 2 and 13 in the periodic table. The periodic table is a chart that shows how chemical elements are related to each other.