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During copper production, the metal may be left as copper turnings. These shavings of copper metal are often used in classrooms for demonstrations because they provide more surface area for chemical reactions than a piece of copper.

copper turnings Demonstration

When copper is exposed to the air, it begins to react with oxygen in a process that makes it green in color. This is similar to the way iron rusts when it’s exposed to the elements, says Paul Frail, an advanced senior engineer in corrosion treatments with Suez Water Technologies & Solutions.

The gradual color change, he said, is due to chemical reactions that take place over time. Copper oxides start to form on the copper’s surface, and the oxides become thicker over time as the copper’s exposure to the air increases.

In the process, traces of sulfur oxides in the atmosphere also react with the copper. Sulfur is found in fuels, for example, and it can fall on to copper through rain and snow.

Sodium hydroxide (a dehydrating agent) is then added to the gas, and carbon dioxide is removed. The resulting nitrogen then passes through a horizontal tube that contains red-hot copper turnings, Jones told Live Science.

Another way to show students that copper reacts only with oxygen in the air is to heat up a piece of copper foil, then open it up. In this experiment, the copper will remain unreacted in the areas that had no contact with oxygen in the air.