Copper is the only metal apart from precious metals that will not react with water or dilute acids.
What happens to copper in acid?
Copper metal "dissolves" in nitric acid (HNO3). ... Heating copper hydroxide produces copper oxide, CuO, a black solid. Cu(OH)2 (s) --> CuO (s) + H2O (l) Copper oxide dissolves in acid, regenerating the copper (II) ion, which once again binds to water.
Why does copper not react with most acids?
Copper does not dissolve in a typical strong acid because the overall cell potential for the oxidation of copper metal to Cu2+ ions coupled with the reduction of H+ ions to H2 is negative.
