From electrical and thermal conductivity to its antimicrobial properties, copper is an extremely versatile metal with a long history of making the world work better. While there are many purposes for copper’s properties in everyday life, here are some of the most noteworthy facts about copper:  Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu. Atomic Number: 29. Atomic Weight: 63.546 AMU (atomic mass unit). Copper comes from the Latin word cuprum, meaning “from the island of Cyprus.” Copper is man’s oldest metal, dating back more than 10,000 years. A copper pendant discovered in what is now northern Iraq has been dated to about 8,700 B.C. The Egyptians had so many uses of copper that they used the ankh symbol to denote copper in their system of hieroglyphs. Copper also represented eternal life in their culture. Copper is one of the oldest metals known to civilization. Its uses and contributions continue to grow. The physical properties of copper are one of its most unique features. Other than gold, copper is the only metal that has natural color. Other metals are either gray or white. Over 400 copper alloys are in use today. Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, while bronze is an alloy of copper, tin, aluminum, silicon and beryllium. Copper is vital to the health of humans, animals and plants and an essential part of the human diet. Copper-rich foods include dried beans, almonds, broccoli, chocolate, garlic, soybeans, peas, whole wheat products and seafood. Copper maximizes the performance of the products that contain it, helping save energy, CO2, money and lives. Copper is a vital, positive contributor to humankind and has improved our quality of life for centuries.