Can you say with certainty that it is copper?

Question

This is a chemistry question:

A copper-colored metal is found to conduct an electric current. Can you say with certainty that it is copper? Why or why not? Suggest additional information that could provide unequivocal confirmation that the metal is copper.

Please answer with as much detail as you can..I really need help...Thank you so much!

Answer 1

You could run some simple tests.  The fact that it "looks" like copper and does not have a typical silvery color is one test.  If it doesn't react with HCl, but it does with HNO3 is a sign that it could be copper.  If the solution produced by dissolving it in HNO3 is blue, that's a good sign that the metal is copper. Measure the density of the metal to see if it agrees with the density of copper.

Answer 2

In terms of physical properties: Copper is usually a reddish brown colour. It is quite unreactive, and can form an oxide layer. Once the oxide layer is removed, it is usually a pinkish shiny colour.

Chemical properties: You can also try reacting copper with nitric acid. A blue solution should form with the presence of Cu2+ ions. Hope this helps.