why is iron more reactive than copper?
Hi Deepti,
The reactivity of transition metals can be understood on the basis of the electronic configuration of the sub shells.
You have studied about the electronic configuration on the basis of K, L M and N shells.
These shells further have sub shells s, p, d and f and it is easier to study the stability on the basis of electronic configuration of these sub shells.
These sub shells are stable when they are fully or half filled.
Like p sub shell is stable when it has 3(half filled) or 6 (fully filled) electrons and d sub shell is stable when it has 10 electrons.
The electronic configuration of iron is 1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s2, 3p6, 4s2, 3d6
And that of copper is 1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s2, 3p6, 4s1, 3d10
Thus, we say that the copper has stable electronic configuration due to filled d- orbitals and iron does not have fully filled d- orbital thus, iron is more reactive than copper.
Hope you got an idea about sub-shells concept.
You will study in detail about these sub shells in higher classes.
Best Wishes!