[Boxxxed]

Is there some sort of transparent coating designed for this type of use (small scale/computers parts). If the copper was in contact with a metal that had a lower reduction potential would this inhibit the oxidation? Why does copper oxidize while Zn and Ni don't when copper has a higher reduction potential? Doesn't it require more energy to remove electrons from copper?

[Borek]

Why does copper oxidize while Zn and Ni don't when copper has a higher reduction potential?

Are you sure? Nickel is relatively resistant to corrosion, but I don't see how Zn could react slower than copper.

[Boxxxed]

I'm just going by the reduction potential table. So far it seems inconsistent. Ni and Zn have lower values than copper, but copper is easily corroded. Nickel is not easily corroded but it's lower than copper and higher than Zn on the table. I'd appreciate an explanation

[Borek]

Trick is, I have never seen copper corroding easily, I have seen zinc corroding. It is hard to explain why things are going the way you say they do, when to my knowledge they don't go this way.