Question

Copper (Cu) is often used for electrical wiring and cooking pans. However, iron (Fe) is much more common on Earth than copper. Why might copper be used instead of iron, if iron is easier to obtain? A link to the periodic table has been provided for your use.

Answer 1

What iron gives in its abundance, it takes away in it's inability to really conduct heat and electricity well. There is enough copper around, if we are careful in its use, to make copper bottomed pots and pans. Of the three best conductors in the world (silver, gold and copper) only copper has enough around and can be inexpensively mined that we make use of it.

If you google dr. copper, you will find he is an economist as well. Copper measures the wealth of an economy by how much is used. So iron might be cheaper and more abundant, but copper will save you much more in trying to do something with it.

Answer 2

thats so wrong its  

Fe has fewer valence electrons than Cu.

Fe has a lower conductivity than Cu.

The lower conductivity of Fe makes it less useful for wiring and cookware.

Fe is less malleable and ductile than Cu.

The lower malleability and ductility of Fe make it less easy to form into wires or sheets.