2007-10-18 07:35:57 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
There was lots of it, easy to get to
2007-10-18 07:38:50 · answer #1 · answered by smars442002 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
OK I'm guessing that since this is in the Chemistry section you need a Chemistry answer. Firstly I don't think it is anything to do with the melting point. Mercury is liquid at room temperature so I think that qualifies as lower than copper which is solid at room temperature.
I think the real reason is that it is easy to extract copper from its ore and that is because it is relatively unreactive and therefore easy to smelt at low temperatures and with low technology equipment.
2007-10-18 08:51:44 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Copper was most likly first found when people were looking for gold, which was the first metal man noticed when seeing the shining particles of free gold in shallow riverbeds. Perhaps ancient man discovered native copper as curious looking lumps in rocks. The native copper would have been scarce but located next to more abundant bright green copper ores of malachite and azurite. Copper would have been the first metal extracted form its ores because it was the fist ore discovered.
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Gold, silver, and copper were the first metals used because they are found in the elemental state. Most metals found in nature are combined with other elements such as oxygen and sulfur. Since energy is needed to extract metals from these compounds or ores, the ease with which a given metal could be extracted from its ore, along with ore availability, determined when it came into use. http://matse1.mse.uiuc.edu/~tw/metals/prin.html
2007-10-18 08:05:54 · answer #3 · answered by Metallic stuff 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Because of it's low melting point, relative to other metals. It was easy to remove the metal from the surrounding rock by heating in the relatively low-temperature ovens of the time.
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2007-10-18 07:46:20 · answer #4 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
the basic ore as a lower melting point than other metals.
2007-10-18 07:39:15 · answer #5 · answered by HaSiCiT Bust A Tie A1 TieBusters 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Copper can be extracted by a hot fire (a blast furnance is not needed). So it is very easy to extract.
2007-10-18 07:39:38 · answer #6 · answered by Michael B 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I think because it has the lowest melting point of all metals
2007-10-18 07:39:03 · answer #7 · answered by Birdman 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
it can be extracted easily on a fire, and so was done so accidentally at first.
2007-10-18 08:13:56 · answer #8 · answered by Banjo 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
My guess would be that it is so easy to spot in rock outcroppings from it's bright blue green color.
2007-10-18 07:39:15 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
B/c it can be used in its native state. No need to heat it before it can be used.
2007-10-18 07:39:14 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋