Copper is a reddish brown nonferrous mineral which has been used for thousands of years by many cultures. The metal is closely related with silver and gold, with many properties being shared among these metals. Modern life has a number of applications for copper, ranging from coins to pigments, and demand for copper remains high, especially in industrialized nations. Many consumers interact with copper in various forms on a daily basis.

Archaeological evidence suggests that copper is among the earliest metals used by humans. Numerous digs all over the world indicate that copper was used to make utensils, jewelry, and weapons. The metal is highly ductile, meaning that it can be easily worked and pulled into wire. For cultures which had minimal or crude metalworking abilities, copper would have been easy to shape and work with. Copper is also easy to alloy, and many of the early metal alloys featured copper.

The name for the metal comes from Kyprios, the Ancient Greek name for Cyprus, an island which had highly productive copper mines in the Ancient world. The atomic number of copper is 29, placing it among the transition metals. The metal is highly conductive of both electricity and heat, and many of copper's uses take advantage of this quality. Copper can be found in numerous electronics and in wiring. It is also used to make cooking pots. Copper is also relatively corrosion resistant, since it forms a patina which resists oxidation. For this reason, copper is often mixed with other metals to form alloys such as bronze and brass.

In addition to being useful in manufacturing, copper is also a vital dietary nutrient, although only small amounts of the metal are needed for well-being. Copper appears in several enzymes, facilitates the absorption of iron, and helps to transmit electrical signals in the body. In high doses, however, the metal can be extremely toxic. Copper can also saturate the water and soil, posing risks to wildlife. On a more benign level, copper can stain clothing and flesh, as many people have probably noticed.

In a natural state, copper is rarely found pure. It is compounded with other elements, and the material must be treated before it can be sold. This can lead to serious environmental problems, especially when mining companies engage in unsound practices. The chemicals used to extract copper can be toxic, as can the discarded elements and runoff associated with copper purification. Many countries attempt to regulate their copper industries, to prevent widespread pollution and the problems associated with it.