銅(tong)(tong)，COPPER，源自Cuprum，是以產銅(tong)(tong)出名的(de)塞浦路斯(si)島的(de)古(gu)名，早為人類所熟知。它(ta)和金(jin)是僅有的(de)兩種帶有除灰(hui)白黑以外色(se)彩的(de)金(jin)屬。銅(tong)(tong)與金(jin)的(de)合(he)金(jin)，可制成(cheng)各(ge)種飾物和用具。參加鋅則為黃銅(tong)(tong)；加進錫即成(cheng)青(qing)銅(tong)(tong)。美國的(de)一分(fen)錢就(jiu)是青(qing)銅(tong)(tong)做成(cheng)的(de)。

銅的發現簡史

銅(tong)(tong)(tong)是(shi)(shi)古代(dai)就現已知道的(de)(de)金(jin)屬之一。一般以為人類(lei)知道的(de)(de) 種金(jin)屬是(shi)(shi)金(jin)，其(qi)次就是(shi)(shi)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)。銅(tong)(tong)(tong)在(zai)自(zi)然界儲量十分豐(feng)富，而(er)且加(jia)工(gong)(gong)便利。銅(tong)(tong)(tong)是(shi)(shi)人類(lei)用于(yu)出(chu)產(chan)的(de)(de) 種金(jin)屬，開始人們(men)運用的(de)(de)僅(jin)僅(jin)存在(zai)于(yu)自(zi)然界中的(de)(de)天然單質銅(tong)(tong)(tong)，用石斧(fu)把(ba)它砍下來，便能夠錘打(da)成(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)多種器物(wu)。跟著出(chu)產(chan)的(de)(de)開展(zhan)，僅(jin)僅(jin)運用天然銅(tong)(tong)(tong)制作的(de)(de)出(chu)產(chan)工(gong)(gong)具就不足應用了(le)，出(chu)產(chan)的(de)(de)開展(zhan)促進人們(men)找到了(le)從(cong)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)礦中獲得銅(tong)(tong)(tong)的(de)(de)辦法。含銅(tong)(tong)(tong)的(de)(de)礦藏比較(jiao)多見，大多具有(you)(you)(you)艷麗而(er)有(you)(you)(you)目(mu)共睹的(de)(de)色(se)彩，例(li)如(ru)：金(jin)黃(huang)色(se)的(de)(de)黃(huang)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)礦CuFeS2，鮮綠色(se)的(de)(de)孔雀石CuCO3Cu(OH)2，深(shen)藍色(se)的(de)(de)石青(qing)2CuCO3Cu(OH)2等，把(ba)這些(xie)礦石在(zai)空氣中焙燒后構成(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)氧化(hua)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)CuO，再用碳復原(yuan)，就得到金(jin)屬銅(tong)(tong)(tong)。純(chun)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)制成(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)的(de)(de)器物(wu)太軟，易曲(qu)折。人們(men)發現把(ba)錫摻(chan)到銅(tong)(tong)(tong)里去，能夠制成(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)錫合金(jin)——青(qing)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)。青(qing)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)比純(chun)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)堅固(gu)，使人們(men)制成(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)的(de)(de)勞動工(gong)(gong)具和兵器有(you)(you)(you)了(le)很大改善，人類(lei)進入了(le)青(qing)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)時(shi)代(dai)，完畢了(le)人類(lei)歷史上的(de)(de)新石器時(shi)代(dai)。

西方(fang)傳說，古代(dai)地中海(hai)的(de)塞(sai)浦路斯Cyprus島是(shi)出產銅的(de)當地，因而由此得到拉丁文稱號(hao)Cuprum和(he)它的(de)化(hua)學符號(hao)Cu，銅的(de)英文稱號(hao)是(shi)Copper。