Question #09d7f

1 Answer
David Drayer ยท Ernest Z.
Aug 17, 2017

Copper has two oxidation states because it can lose either one or two valence electrons.

Explanation:

Copper has a valence electron configuration of 4s13d10.

The 4s and 3d levels are very close in energy, so copper can lose one or two electrons.

In copper(II), copper loses two electrons, leaving 3d9.

In copper(I), copper loses its 4s electron. This gives a valence configuration of 3d10.

The 3d10 configuration is somewhat stable as it is a filled subshell.

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