Copper

The 29th element with the symbol Cu and a beautiful pink-orange hue. Copper is a huge multi-tasker metal, with decorative, industrial, plumbing, electronic, and culinary uses, making it extremely useful in everyday life. Most of its practical applications make use of Copper's availability and conductivity. It is widespread in many countries, and is easily accessible. Copper is also the 2nd most conductive metal. In addition to being common and a great transmitter, it is very soft, allowing it to be bent into many different shapes easily. However, as good as Copper may seem, it is chemically reactive in the air, quickly developing a black tarnish that ruins the orange-y hue that many people love. It is also too soft; requiring the support of other metals for strength. The name "Copper" comes from the Latin "Cuprum", meaning "from the island of Cyprus". The Romans discovered that this metal was abundant on Cyprus, and mined large quantities of it.