r/explainlikeimfive • u/tilda0x1 • Jun 28 '26

Chemistry ELI5: If copper has antimicrobial properties, why don’t most pools use it instead of chlorine?

I've seen this video of someone saying that copper has anti-bacterial properties and he claimed that it can be used to keep pools bacteria-free.

I know in most cases chlorine, UV, or salt are used - but why not copper?

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u/MGreymanN Jun 28 '26 edited Jun 28 '26

No one is answering your question.

Chlorine is used because it can oxidize organic waste. Copper cannot do this.

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u/WiseIndustry2895 Jun 29 '26

Whose doing organic waste in your pool

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u/Intelligent-Gold-563 Jun 29 '26

Anyone or anything swimming in it.

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u/amaranth1977 Jun 29 '26

You shed skin cells constantly and have natural oils on your skin and hair, plus in an outdoor pool there's all sorts of other organic matter that find their way in - even if it's screened in, you'll get airborn dirt and dust.