JCE Online Journal of Chemical Education
 | Subscriptions  | Software Orders  | Support  | Contributors  | Advertisers  | 



  Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues > 1999  > February  >
Chemistry Everyday for Everyone
Why Gold and Copper Are Colored but Silver Is Not
Ariel H. Guerrero, Héctor J. Fasoli, and José Luis Costa
Universidad del Salvador, Facultad de Ciencia y Tecnología, Santa Fe 2879, 1425 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Cover
February 1999
Vol. 76 No. 2
p. 200
Abstract
Having tried to explain the yellow color of copper (J. Chem. Educ. 1989, 66, 400), our aim is to extend that interpretation to the yellow color of gold based on the same conditions as copper: (i) adequate external electronic configuration (s1d10/s2d9); and (ii) sublevels s and d close enough to allow transition between these electronic sublevels to proceed significantly (Cu, Ag). The question remains why silver is not yellow. Radii of silver and gold are almost identical owing to lanthanide contraction; that's why gold achieves both mentioned conditions, but the silver radius is too large for its number of electrons and transitions s/d are practically forbidden. Colors and tinges of other metals are an open subject of research, but this explanation for the copper group is simple enough for high-school level.
More Information
*  Citation
 Guerrero, Ariel H.; Fasoli, Hctor J.; Costa, Jos Luis. J. Chem. Educ. 1999 76 200.
*  Keywords
 Inorganic Chemistry; Introductory / High School Chemistry; Copper; Silver; Gold; Periodicity / Periodic Table
*  History
 Created:
Last Updated:		 June 15, 1999
June 22, 2005
<< Previous Article Table of Contents Next Article >>
  Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues > 1999 > February > Page 200



Chemistry Teacher Connection

The "Chemistry Teacher Connection" (CTC) is especially for high school chemistry teachers. For only $40/year, it offers an online-only subscription to CLIC along with membership in the Division of Chemical Education, normally $65/year. CTC subscribers receive access to all articles and supplements from 1996 through the current issue.
More About CTC
Order the Chemistry Teacher Connection

C&EN CLICs

Through special arrangement with the ACS, JCE High School CLIC is now able to provide subscribers with online access to Chemical & Engineering News articles that have been selected specifically for secondary science instructors and their students. 
 C&EN CLICs

JCE Collections Available
Occasionally, collections of JCE back issues become available for donation to individual teachers, schools, or libraries. JCE matches collections with interested recipients. Recipients pay shipping costs or pick up the collection.
 List of available collections

Contributions Welcome
JCE welcomes your submission
 Contributors's Corner

Subscriptions
 Subscription Info
 Order Forms

Fishing for New Ideas
Always in the
process of
improving, CLIC
welcomes ideas and comments.

Email Us

NSF logoDivCHEDACS ACS PubsFor journals in other fields of chemistry visit ACS Publications.
Comments to
jceonline@chem.wisc.edu		 Copyright © 2008 Division of Chemical Education, Inc., American Chemical Society.
All rights reserved.		  Terms | Privacy