Copper: Industrial production and applications

Abstract

This article is dedicated to element copper in honor to International Year of the Periodic Table celebrated in 2019. Copper is one of the oldest discovered chemical elements and manipulated by human being. In this sense, aspects about the element copper and its importance in different areas are described, from its mineral exploration through its processing and applications. Inorganic aspects such as structure of copper compounds and their main properties are presented as well the importance of this element in biological systems and organic reactions is explored, showing how essential copper is for life and society.