The Stages of Copper Corrosion

In the first stage of the formation of a patina, copper reacts with oxygen in the air to form copper (I)
oxide:

(Cu2O): 4Cu + O2 → 2Cu2O

This turns the copper a reddish color. In the second stage, this compound reacts with oxygen to form
copper(II) oxide (CuO), which is black:

2Cu2O + O2 → 4CuO

You can observe these reactions for yourself by placing a sheet of copper on a gas stove burner. It first
turns red, then black.

The final stage of patination occurs more slowly and usually takes several years. Copper (II) oxide and
copper (II) sulfide (CuS), which is another black compound that forms when there is sulfur in the air,
react with carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydroxide ions (OH-) from water in the air to form three
compounds:

Cu2CO3(OH)2

Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2

Cu4SO4(OH)6

These are the compounds that form the patina.

A copper patina develops faster in polluted air that contains a lot of sulfur, which is a byproduct of
burning fossil fuels.

Ref: https://sciencing.com/causes-copper-tarnish-13011.html