GROUP 11: COPPER GROUP

Copper Group Overview

Also known as: Coinage metals

Group Members: Copper (Cu), Silver (Ag), Gold (Au), Roentgenium (Rg)

Common Properties: All are relatively inert, corrosion-resistant, excellent conductors, malleable and ductile

Cu

Copper

Conductive
Atomic Number 29
Atomic Mass 63.55 u
Electron Config [Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s¹
Common Ions Cu⁺, Cu²⁺
Melting Point 1085°C
Density 8.96 g/cm³
Copper was the first metal to be worked by humans, dating back over 10,000 years!

Properties: Excellent conductor, malleable, ductile, reddish-orange

Applications: Electrical wiring, plumbing, coins, roofing, electronics

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Ag

Silver

Best Conductor
Atomic Number 47
Atomic Mass 107.87 u
Electron Config [Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s¹
Common Ions Ag⁺
Melting Point 961.8°C
Density 10.49 g/cm³
Silver has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest optical reflectivity!

Properties: Best electrical conductor, highest thermal conductivity, lustrous white

Applications: Jewelry, silverware, photography, electronics, mirrors

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Au

Gold

Precious
Atomic Number 79
Atomic Mass 196.97 u
Electron Config [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s¹
Common Ions Au⁺, Au³⁺
Melting Point 1064°C
Density 19.32 g/cm³
Gold is so malleable that one ounce can be beaten into a sheet covering 100 square feet!

Properties: Malleable, ductile, non-reactive, yellow color

Applications: Jewelry, electronics, dentistry, investment, space technology

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Rg

Roentgenium

Synthetic
Atomic Number 111
Atomic Mass 282 u
Electron Config [Rn] 5f¹⁴ 6d¹⁰ 7s¹
Common Ions Rg⁺
Half-life ~26 sec
Stability Synthetic
Roentgenium is named after Wilhelm Röntgen, the discoverer of X-rays!

Properties: Synthetic radioactive metal, extremely short-lived

Applications: Scientific research only

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