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Copper

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Heavy Metals in Natural Waters

Part of the book series: Springer Series on Environmental Management ((SSEM))

Abstract

Copper is widely distributed in nature in the free state and in sulfides, arsenides, chlorides, and carbonates. It is soft and ductile with a high thermal and electrical conductivity second only to silver. Copper is classified as intermediate between hard and soft acids in its chemical interactions with donor atoms. Hard acids prefer O donors forming essentially electrovalent bonds whereas soft acceptors prefer S or Se donor atoms forming covalent bonds. Copper belongs to the third transition metal series, exhibiting a wide variation in properties such as spectral, magnetic, complexing capacity, and oxidation states. These properties result from the partially filled d subshell. Copper complexes of oxidation states (+1), (+2), and (+3) are known, though Cu(+2) is most common. Cu(+1) is a typical soft acid.

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  1. Alberta Environmental Centre, Vegreville, Alberta, TOB 4L0, Canada

    James W. Moore & S. Ramamoorthy

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Moore, J.W., Ramamoorthy, S. (1984). Copper. In: Heavy Metals in Natural Waters. Springer Series on Environmental Management. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-5210-8_5

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