Copper is a chemical element. It is made of only a single type of atom—it cannot be broken down into simpler substances. The copper atom has an atomic number of 29, which means that its atomic nucleus contains 29 protons.
Copper is extracted from natural ores—either a copper sulfide ore (such as chalcopyrite) or a copper oxide ore. These ores are mined, crushed, and processed to make copper. These copper ores are found in parts of North and South America (countries such as Chile and Peru), as well as in areas such as the Ural Mountains in Russia, and in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa.