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Topic: Colors of Cu(II) and Cu(I) based on electron configs  (Read 2495 times)

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Offline spirochete

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Colors of Cu(II) and Cu(I) based on electron configs
« on: February 08, 2009, 09:12:42 PM »
Cu(II) forms brightly colored solutions and Cu(I) is colorless.  Why is this?

Cu(I)'s valence electrons have the configuration 3d10 whereas Cu(II) has the configuration 3d9

Does having unpaired electrons give Cu(II) solutions their color?  That's my best guess but even if it's true I don't understand how it works.
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Offline Borek

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Re: Colors of Cu(II) and Cu(I) based on electron configs
« Reply #1 on: February 09, 2009, 02:57:25 AM »
Start with the very basic question - why most of the transition metal ions are colored?
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