COPPER

(Cu), chemical element, reddish, extremely ductile metal of Group Ib of the periodic table, unusually good conductor of electricity and heat. Copper is found in the free metallic state in nature; this native copper was first used (c. 8000 BC) as a substitute for stone by Neolithic man. Metallurgy dawned in Egypt as copper was cast to shape in molds (c. 4000 BC), was reduced to metal from ores with fire and charcoal, and was intentionally alloyed with tin as bronze (c. 3500 BC). The Roman supply of copper came almost entirely from Cyprus; it was known as aes Cyprium, metal of Cyprus, shortened to cyprium and later corrupted to cuprum. See also bronze.