Question

Write the electron configurations of cu2+ and ag+. is each electron configuration consistent with the color you observed for each cation? explain.

Answer 1

(1) Copper:
Copper has the atomic number : 29
Cu2+ means that it lost 2 electrons, therefore, the total number of electrons is 29-2 = 27 electrons.
The electronic configuration is:
1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d9

(2) Silver:
Silver has atomic number : 47
Ag  + means that it lost one electron, therefore, the total number of electrons  is 47-1 = 46 electrons
The electronic configuration is:
1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10

Answer 2

The electron configuration of copper cation:

₂₉Cu²⁺ 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d⁹ or [Ar] 3d⁹.

The electron configuration of copper cation:

₄₇Ag⁺ 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ or [Kr] 4d¹⁰.

Copper and silver lose their outer s-orbital electrons before they lose their outer d-orbital electrons.

Each electron configuration is consistent with the color, copper solution is blue, silver solution is colorless.