Is copper a metal?

Copper is a highly conductive, ductile metal. The metal is soft and malleable, although it does possess a great deal of tensile strength. This means that copper is easily formed by hand, but it is not suitable for building structures.

Although copper has approximately half the tensile strength of carbon steel, it is a weak metal. Despite its lack of strength, it is still very hard to break because of its high toughness, making it an excellent choice for constructing pipes, wire and tubing. Copper is also used to make jewelry and circuit boards. Copper's conductive properties are surpassed only by those of silver, so it is often used as a conductor for electricity and heat.