TPRH Science Workbook Question

[BlitzSleep]

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Chemistry Passage 2 #3:

Based upon closed-shell and half-closed shell considerations, which of the following metals is the least reactive?

I chose Mg(s), since it has a closed valence shell, but it says the answer is Cu(s). What confuses me is the explaination:

"...While magnesium has a closed valence s subshell, copper has a closed valence d subshell. This gives copper greater stabilization making it much less reactive"

Can someone explain this? It doesn't make sense.

 

[lorenzomicron]

Consider the subshells are s, p, d, f.

If Mg's shell is closed at s, it still has p, d, f shells to contribute to reactivity and take electrons. In other words, it's more reactive because it has more electronegativity. For Cu, it's protons are well-shieled even onto the d subshell, which makes it have a lower electronegativity. I think they called this, Zeff.

 

[BlitzSleep]

Oh okay that makes sense...Thanks for the explaination! 😀