Final Question on Hybridization

[Spencer T]

On the final, there was a question asking what orbital the electron of Cu⁺would be removed from the ground state of Copper. Would the electron be removed from the 4s orbital? or would it be removed from the 3d orbital? Why is the electron removed from one and not the other?

Thanks for the help.

[606012329]

It would be from the 4s orbital because copper acts as an exception in the electron configuration where it loses from 4s rather than 3d because that is more stable for it to have a full 3d10 orbital.