Sulfide concentrate is roasted to matte and converted to blister copper (Cu2S + Cu2O → 4 Cu + SO2), then electrolytically refined: impure anodes dissolve in acid CuSO4 and pure Cu plates onto starter sheets. See chalcopyrite.
Research Elements Cu · atomic number 29 Transition metal · period 4, group 11 [Ar] 3d10 4s1 Shells: 2, 8, 18, 1 Valence electrons: 1 in the outer shell (4s1), and 10 in 3d10 Green dots are the outer shell's s and p electrons. Softer green dots are the d electrons of transition metals, and the d and f electrons of lanthanides and actinides: they often take part in bonding, but not always. Grey dots are the core. Ground-state configuration from the NIST Atomic Spectra Database (A. Kramida, Yu. Ralchenko, J. Reader and the NIST ASD Team). Abundance is the mole fraction of the element found as that isotope on Earth; digits in parentheses are the uncertainty in the last digits. Masses and abundances from NIST, Atomic Weights and Isotopic Compositions (J. S. Coursey, D. J. Schwab, J. J. Tsai and R. A. Dragoset, National Institute of Standards and Technology).Copper
Electrons
How it's obtained
Natural isotopes
Isotope Relative atomic mass Abundance 63Cu 62.92959772(56) 0.6915(15) 65Cu 64.92778970(71) 0.3085(15) Compounds