Copper

Refined copper is one of the most economically important metals in the modern world, second only to iron and aluminium in global consumption. Its exceptional electrical conductivity, surpassed only by silver among common metals, makes it the universal material for electrical wiring, motors, generators, and transformers. It is also the primary constituent of brass and bronze alloys, and sees wide use in plumbing, heat exchangers, and ammunition casings. Copper smelting is a well-established industrial process, though achieving the high purity grades required for electrical applications demands electrolytic refining as a final step.