Specific Weight of Copper, Properties, Applications and Value Table
Copper is an element of the fourth period and the eleventh group of the periodic table. In its simple form, copper is a ductile transition metal with a pinkish or golden shade.
Copper is one of the first materials mastered by humans because of its relatively low melting point and availability. It is one of the seven metals known since ancient times. Copper occurs in native form more often than iron, silver or gold. The chemical name of copper, Cuprum, comes from the name of the island of Cyprus.
Table of Specific Weight of Copper
Because copper is a complex material, calculating its specific weight independently in field conditions is practically impossible. Such measurements are carried out in special chemical laboratories. However, the average specific weight of copper is known and ranges from 8.63 to 8.8 g/cm3.
To calculate the weight of copper and simplify estimates, the table below gives values for specific weight and for the weight of copper depending on the units of measurement.
| Material | Specific weight (g/cm3) | Weight of 1 m3 (kg) |
| Copper | From 8.63 to 8.8 | From 8630 to 8800 |
Properties of Copper
Copper is a ductile metal with a pinkish or golden shade. When exposed to air, it becomes covered with an oxide film of red or yellowish color, and in transmitted light it may appear bluish green.
Along with cesium, gold and osmium, copper is a metal with a clearly expressed color that differs from the silvery or gray appearance of most other metals. Copper forms a face-centered cubic lattice.
This material has excellent electrical conductivity, ranking second after silver by this parameter, as well as high thermal conductivity. Copper has a high temperature coefficient of resistance. Copper belongs to the group of diamagnetic materials.
Copper is also used in alloys with zinc to make brass, with tin to make bronze, with nickel to make cupronickel and in several other alloys.
This element is only weakly affected by air in the absence of carbon dioxide and moisture. Copper is a weak reducing agent and does not react with water or dilute hydrochloric acid. It can dissolve in non-oxidizing acids in the presence of oxygen, as well as in ammonia and cyanide media. It oxidizes well when interacting with nitric and concentrated sulfuric acid, oxygen, chalcogens, nonmetal oxides, aqua regia and halogens. When heated, it reacts with hydrogen halides.
Copper has been widely used since ancient times. Its distinctive properties are still among the most valuable, which makes copper one of the most widely used materials. The main areas of application include:
- use in electrical engineering for making wires, cables and other conductors;
- use in heat-removal devices and heat exchangers;
- production of copper pipes;
- use of copper in various alloys;
- use of copper in jewelry alloys;
- manufacture of superconductors;
- use as a catalyst for acetylene;
- wide use in architectural work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the density of copper be used for precise calculations?
The density and weight values for copper in this article are reference values. They are suitable for preliminary estimates, but design, construction, production and other critical calculations should be checked against standards, material datasheets or measurement results.
Why can the actual weight of copper differ from the table?
The actual weight of copper depends on composition, moisture, temperature, porosity, fraction size, material grade and measurement conditions. Because of this, real values may differ from the average table data.
How do you calculate the mass of copper from density?
For an approximate calculation, use the formula: mass = density × volume. If the density of copper is given in kg/m³ and the volume is in m³, the result will be in kilograms.