cop'per

A bright red metallic element, known from very early times. Symbol Cu. Atomic weight 63.6. It forms salts with various acids but few of them are used medicinally. List of poisons and their antidotes, see in appendix, page. c. acetate. Normal cupric acetate, Cu(C2Hs02)2 + H2O; it forms efflorescent green crystals of a disagreeable metallic taste. It is not used internally [U. S. Ph., 1880]. c. alginate. A combination of alginic acid, obtained from seaweed and copper; used in the anemias of leprosy, cancer, etc. c. ammoniosulphate. Ammoniated c. sulphate, ammoniated copper; a compound of c. sulphate with ammonia. c. arsenite. Syn.: Scheele's green. A poisonous pigment, CuHAsOs. c. sulphate. Syn.: Blue vitreol, blue copper, blue stone, cupric sulphate. A blue crystalline substance, CuSCu _+ 5H2O. Soluble in water. It is an efficient emetic. [Lat., cuprum.']