구리 Copper (Cu)

Copper (Cu)

-Latin origin -(cuprum) Roman town of Cyprus

-Similar to Ag, Au

-Pure copper is pink/ copper exposed to air (oxidized) is reddish orange

-Ductile/ high Thermal and Electrical conductivity 

Chemical properties

 Cu+1 (cuprous), Cu+2 (cupric), Cu+3, Cu+4

Water-Soluble   Reacts w/ atmospheric Oxygen

     

Copper Corrosion

Chemical Properties

 Oxygen-containing ammonia solutions give water-soluble complexes with copper

 Hydrochloric acid/hydrogen peroxide also react with copper chlorides to form copper(II) salts 

 Copper(II) chloride and copper (+0) comproportionate to form copper(I) chloride

Production History

 Most copper (Copper Sulfide) is extracted from large open pit mines

 Crushed ores are subjected to froth flotation or bioleaching

 Heating the material with silica removes the iron slag and drops the copper matte to the bottom

 The copper matte is roasted to oxidize the sulfides

 The resulting blister copper is heated and blown with natural gas to remove oxygen

 Electro-refining (electro-platting) the im-pure copper produces pure copper

Production History

Copper sulfides 

Copper carbonates

Copper Oxides

Uses and Applications

 Bronze Age- (Alloying of copper with zinc or tin to make brass and bronze) right after the Chalcolithic age

 Currency Weapons/Tools

 Construction Art Sculptures

 Electrical Wires Roofing/Plumbing

 Machinery Wood Preservative 

 Fungicide Biostatic Property

Antimicrobial   Antibiofouling

Mode of Entry into Aquatic environment

 Copper Water Pipes

 Contaminated Drinking water (excess CuS)

 Runoff ladened w/excess CuS sprayed on fruits and vegetables

Reactivity w/ Water and other prop.

 Dissolved in Water

 In form of salts

 Cu+3 and +4 form fluoride complexes

Toxicity to aquatic life

 Copper strongly adsorbs into organic matter making it an effective algaecide

 At acute toxic levels, copper effects fish, invertebrates, and amphibians equally

 The deleterious effects of copper are seen more commonly  in the organs of aquatic organisms than terrestrial organisms

 mollusks have a higher potential to bioconcentrate copper than do fish 

 effects on bird growth rates and egg production

 Requires high concentrations to effect mammals

 liver cirrhosis, kidney necrosis, brain necrosis, and even fetal mortality can occur

Modes of toxicity

 Essential in hemocyanin and cytochrome c oxidase in aerobic respiration

 Acute toxic levels enter the organism through ingestion from food or water

 Free copper causes toxicity as it generates reactive oxygen species; superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, the hydroxyl radical

 These damage proteins, lipids and DNA

Modes of Toxicity

 Redox Cycling of Cu(II) in the body

 Cu(II) strongly catalyzes the oxidation of TBHQ to TBQ

 TBQH comes from BHA; a food preservative and possible antioxidant

 However, oxidation of TBQH produces reactive oxidative species H(2)O(2)

 Leads to extensive DNA strand breaks

butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA)

2-tert-butyl(1,4)hydroquinone (TBHQ)

2-tert-butyl(1,4)paraquinone (TBQ)

Biochemical metabolism

 Alterations in the levels of glycerol, phospholipids, glycerides, sterols, sterol esters and free fatty acids due to copper sulphate treatment in mantle and digestive gland of mollusc 

 Possible mechanism of detoxification, prevalent in this fresh water mollusc

 Mammals have efficient mechanisms to regulate copper such that they are generally protected from excess dietary copper levels

Modes of detoxification

 Metallothionein

 Localized in the Golgi apparatus and a cysteine-rich protein

 Capacity to bind heavy metals through the thiol group of its cysteine residues

 Provides regulation of physiological heavy metals (Cu, Zn)

 Therefore, may protect against oxidative stress

Copper as a possible detoxifier of halogenated compounds

 Fenton's reaction for degradation of perchloroethene (volatile organic compound)

 Copper accelerates the reaction of iron (III)with hydrogen peroxide to generate increased amounts of hydroxyl and superoxide radicals

 These radicals can react with a variety of VOCs and mineralize them

 Enabling targeted VOC extraction from effected areas