Question

To which group does copper belong?

a. Metalloid
b. Alkaline earth metal
c. Alkali metal
d. Transition metal

Answer 1

d. Transition metal

Step-by-step explanation:

A transition metal is an element which has an atom or forms an ion with a partially-filled d-subshell.

As we can see from the electronic configuration of Copper 2+ ion, Cu²⁺:

`_(27)Cu^(2+) = 1s^2\space\ 2s^2 \space\ 2p^6 \space\ 3s^2 \space\ 3p^6 \space\ 3d^9` ,

copper forms an ion with an incomplete d-subshell that contains 9 electrons; therefore copper is a transition metal.

• Option a. is wrong because copper is not a metalloid. Metalloids have characteristics of both metals and non-metals; copper only has metallic properties.

• Option b. is wrong because 'alkaline earth metals' are the elements in Group 2 of the periodic table; copper is in Group 11.

• Option c. is wrong because 'alkali metals' are in Group 1 of the periodic table.