Quote:
Originally Posted by Moontanman
So I guess my next question is why copper is pinkish in color and not silver or grey like almost all other metals.
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I think the 3d, 4s transition energy is small-enough to coincide with visible light in copper (much like gold). Copper is kind of special in its electron configuration and position on the periodic table because 3d electrons have more energy than 4s electrons in elements lighter than copper while 4s has more energy in elements heavier than copper. This has to do with the different quantum numbers n and l (lowercase L). A larger value n and a larger value l both mean more energy for an electron, but which is the dominant factor depends on if the element is greater or less than copper in atomic number.
This is not a relativistic effect, as with gold and cesium.
~modest
