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The domes of many building in Europe are made of copper. These domes now appear greenish in colour.

(a) Why do the domes appear greenish though copper is orange-red in colour?

(b) In your opinion, should the copper domes be replaced by iron domes to overcome the problem of change of colour of copper domes?

(c) Domes used to be made from thin sheets of metals. Why did the ancient architects use copper to make domes?

Metals & Non-Metals

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Answer

(a) The domes appear greenish because the copper surface reacts with moist air and carbon dioxide over time, forming a layer of basic copper carbonate (CuCO3·Cu(OH)2), which is greenish in colour. Although copper is originally orange-red, the formation of this compound gives the dome its characteristic greenish appearance.

(b) The copper domes should not be replaced with iron domes since iron reacts with moisture and oxygen to form iron oxide (rust), which is reddish-brown and flakes off, exposing fresh metal to further corrosion which makes iron weak and unstable over time. In contrast, the green coating on copper forms a protective layer that prevents further corrosion, keeping the dome strong and durable.

(c) Ancient architects used copper because it is a highly malleable metal, its thin sheets can be used to give different shapes of roofs, like the shape of a dome.

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