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Compare Copper vs Zinc

Comparing Copper (Cu) and Zinc (Zn). Atomic numbers 29 and 30 with atomic masses 63.546 u and 65.382 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
Zn
Zinc
#30

Periodic properties of the elements

CopperZinc
SymbolCuZn
Atomic number2930
Group1112
Period44
Blockdd
Element categoryTransition MetalTransition Metal

Physical properties

CopperZinc
Phase at STPSolidSolid
Density8.96 g/cm37.14 g/cm3
Atomic weight63.5463 u65.382 u
Melting point1357.77 K
1084.62 °C
1984.316 °F		692.68 K
419.53 °C
787.154 °F
Boiling point2835 K
2561.85 °C
4643.33 °F		1180 K
906.85 °C
1664.33 °F

Atomic properties

CopperZinc
Electronegativity (Pauling Scale)1.91.65
Electron affinity119.235 kJ/mol-58 kJ/mol
Oxidation states−2, 0, +1, +2, +3, +4
(a mildly basic oxide)		−2, 0, +1, +2
(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. 906.4 kJ/mol
  2. 1733.3 kJ/mol
  3. 3833 kJ/mol
  4. 5731 kJ/mol
  5. 7970 kJ/mol
  6. 10400 kJ/mol
  7. 12900 kJ/mol
  8. 16800 kJ/mol
  9. 19600 kJ/mol
  10. 23000 kJ/mol
  11. 26400 kJ/mol
  12. 29990 kJ/mol
  13. 40490 kJ/mol
  14. 43800 kJ/mol
  15. 47300 kJ/mol
  16. 52300 kJ/mol
  17. 55900 kJ/mol
  18. 59700 kJ/mol
  19. 67300 kJ/mol
  20. 71200 kJ/mol
  21. 179100 kJ/mol

Electron configuration

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

History

CopperZinc
DiscoveryMiddle East (9000 BC)Indian metallurgists (1000 BC)
First isolationAndreas Sigismund Marggraf (1746)
Named byParacelsus
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