Copper

Copper is also a main component in the alloy that makes the penny, but it is also used, sometimes, in piping to help reduce the amounts of lead in drinking water. Unlike other metals, copper is not replaced by hydrochloric acid. In order to dissolve a penny in acid, it must be placed in nitric acid where it then dissolves into copper ions and changes the liquid's color from colorless to blue.

Symbol: Cu
Atomic number: 29
Atomic weight: 63.546
Density (at room temperature and pressure): 8.96 g/cc
Melting point: 1,084.62°C
Boiling point: 2,567°C
Valence: +1, +2
Ground state electron configuration: [Ar]3d¹⁰4s¹

Many demo coders on the PC went to great lengths to emulate some of the functionality of the Copper chip using a very CPU-intensive polling technique. A good example of many Copper effects emulated on the PC was the demo entitled, simply enough, "Copper" (by Surprise Productions); unfortunately, by the time PCs were fast enough to decently emulate interrupt-driven behavior through rapid polling, hardware-level hackery such as this had long fallen out of vogue, especially since it'd be more effective use of the CPU to just emulate the effect itself (rather than the functionality behind it).

It'd be funny to see the looks on peoples' faces if they were to see a textmode copper bar nowadays, though, given how rare and unknown copper effects are nowadays.

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To the Periodic Table

1. Water pipes and gas pipes, because it can be easily bent into shape (it's malleable) by hand, without fracturing.
2. Electrical wiring, because it can be easily bent around corners and conducts very well.
3. It forms useful non-corroding alloys such as brass and bronze.

copper n.

Conventional electron-carrying network cable with a core conductor of copper -- or aluminum! Opposed to light pipe or, say, a short-range microwave link.

--The Jargon File version 4.3.1, ed. ESR, autonoded by rescdsk.

Cop"per (?), n. [OE. coper (cf. D. koper, Sw. koppar, Dan. kobber, G. kupfer), LL. cuper, fr. L. cuprum for earlier Cyprium, Cyprium aes, i.e., Cyprian brass, fr. Gr. Κυπριος of Cyprus (Gr. Κυπρος), anciently renowned for its copper mines. Cf. Cypreous.]

1.

A common metal of a reddish color, both ductile and malleable, and very tenacious. It is one of the best conductors of heat and electricity. Symbol Cu. Atomic weight 63.3. It is one of the most useful metals in itself, and also in its alloys, brass and bronze.

Copper is the only metal which occurs native abundantly in large masses; it is found also in various ores, of which the most important are chalcopyrite, chalcocite, cuprite, and malachite. Copper mixed with tin forms bell metal; with a smaller proportion, bronze; and with zinc, it forms brass, pinchbeck, and other alloys.

2.

A coin made of copper; a penny, cent, or other minor coin of copper.

My friends filled my pockets with coppers. Franklin.

3.

A vessel, especially a large boiler, made of copper.

4. pl. Specifically Naut.,

the boilers in the galley for cooking; as, a ship's coppers.

Copper is often used adjectively, commonly in the sense of made or consisting of copper, or resembling copper; as, a copper boiler, tube, etc.

All in a hot and copper sky. Coleridge.

It is sometimes written in combination; as, copperplate, coppersmith, copper-colored.

Copper finch. Zool. See Chaffinch. -- Copper glance, ∨ Vitreous copper. Min. See Chalcocite. -- Indigo copper. Min. See Covelline.

© Webster 1913.

Cop"per, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Coppered (?); p.pr. & vb.n. Coppering.]

To cover or coat with copper; to sheathe with sheets of copper; as, to copper a ship.

© Webster 1913.