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Compare Copper vs Iron

Comparing Copper (Cu) and Iron (Fe). Atomic numbers 29 and 26 with atomic masses 63.546 u and 55.845 u, classified as transition metal and transition metal. Below: a side-by-side comparison of their physical, atomic, electron-configuration and historical properties, including density, melting and boiling points, ionization energies, oxidation states and discovery history.

vs
Cu
Copper
#29
Fe
Iron
#26

Periodic properties of the elements

CopperIron
SymbolCuFe
Atomic number2926
Group118
Period44
Blockdd
Element categoryTransition MetalTransition Metal

Physical properties

CopperIron
Phase at STPSolidSolid
Density8.96 g/cm37.874 g/cm3
Atomic weight63.5463 u55.8452 u
Melting point1357.77 K
1084.62 °C
1984.316 °F		1811 K
1537.85 °C
2800.13 °F
Boiling point2835 K
2561.85 °C
4643.33 °F		3134 K
2860.85 °C
5181.53 °F

Atomic properties

CopperIron
Electronegativity (Pauling Scale)1.91.83
Electron affinity119.235 kJ/mol14.785 kJ/mol
Oxidation states−2, 0, +1, +2, +3, +4
(a mildly basic oxide)		−4, −2, −1, 0, +1, +2, +3, +4, +5, +6, +7
(an amphoteric oxide)
Ionization energies
  1. 745.5 kJ/mol
  2. 1957.9 kJ/mol
  3. 3555 kJ/mol
  4. 5536 kJ/mol
  5. 7700 kJ/mol
  6. 9900 kJ/mol
  7. 13400 kJ/mol
  8. 16000 kJ/mol
  9. 19200 kJ/mol
  10. 22400 kJ/mol
  11. 25600 kJ/mol
  12. 35600 kJ/mol
  13. 38700 kJ/mol
  14. 42000 kJ/mol
  15. 46700 kJ/mol
  16. 50200 kJ/mol
  17. 53700 kJ/mol
  18. 61100 kJ/mol
  19. 64702 kJ/mol
  20. 163700 kJ/mol
  21. 174100 kJ/mol
  22. 184900 kJ/mol
  23. 198800 kJ/mol
  24. 210500 kJ/mol
  25. 222700 kJ/mol
  26. 239100 kJ/mol
  27. 249660 kJ/mol
  28. 1067358 kJ/mol
  29. 1116105 kJ/mol
  1. 762.5 kJ/mol
  2. 1561.9 kJ/mol
  3. 2957 kJ/mol
  4. 5290 kJ/mol
  5. 7240 kJ/mol
  6. 9560 kJ/mol
  7. 12060 kJ/mol
  8. 14580 kJ/mol
  9. 22540 kJ/mol
  10. 25290 kJ/mol
  11. 28000 kJ/mol
  12. 31920 kJ/mol
  13. 34830 kJ/mol
  14. 37840 kJ/mol
  15. 44100 kJ/mol
  16. 47206 kJ/mol
  17. 122200 kJ/mol
  18. 131000 kJ/mol
  19. 140500 kJ/mol
  20. 152600 kJ/mol
  21. 163000 kJ/mol
  22. 173600 kJ/mol
  23. 188100 kJ/mol
  24. 195200 kJ/mol
  25. 851800 kJ/mol
  26. 895161 kJ/mol

Electron configuration

CopperIron
Shorthand configuration[Ar] 3d10 4s1 [Ar] 3d6 4s2
Full configuration1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s1 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d6 4s2
Electrons per shell2, 8, 18, 12, 8, 14, 2

History

CopperIron
DiscoveryMiddle East (9000 BC)Middle East (5000 BC)
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