(Courtesy of Royal Observatory Edinburgh.)
Copper is low on the reactivity scale. This low
reactivity, combined with its malleability makes it ideal for use in
architecture. It can be cut and hammered into ornate shapes and it will
protect itself with a pale green coating of copper salts called a
patina.
You can download and save this new Copper Development Association resource as two PDF files.
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Copper Reactivity - Patination.pdf
Copper Reactivity - Patination - Answers.pdf
Copper reacts with a
solution of ferric chloride and also copper chloride. This has been
known for a long time and is a common way of etching copper.
Etching is a basic tool to reveal the grain structure of copper. The
etchant attacks the polished copper surface selectively revealing the
size and shape of the grains.
You can download and save this new Copper Development Association resource as two PDF files.
Click on the following links and choose the
'save' option.
Copper Reactivity - Etching.pdf
Copper Reactivity - Etchings - Answers.pdf
You can download and save these new Copper Development Association resources as one Zip file.
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right clicking on the folder and choosing the 'extract all' option.
Copper reactivity (all).zip
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