Characteristics
Like other groups, the members of this family show patterns in its electron configuration, especially the outermost shells resulting in trends in chemical behavior (although roentgenium is probably an exception):
| Z | Element | No. of electrons/shell |
|---|---|---|
| 29 | copper | 2, 8, 18, 1 |
| 47 | silver | 2, 8, 18, 18, 1 |
| 79 | gold | 2, 8, 18, 32, 18, 1 |
| 111 | roentgenium | 2, 8, 18, 32, 32, 17, 2 |
They are all relatively inert, corrosion-resistant metals. Copper and gold are colored.
These elements have low electrical resistivity so they are used for wiring. Copper is the cheapest and most widely used. Bond wires for integrated circuits are usually gold. Silver and silver plated copper wiring are found in some special applications.
Read more about this topic: Group 11 Element