Like many of the transition elements, copper has a colored ion. Copper typically forms a bluish green solution. Copper (Cu) has two valences Cu I (cuprous) has one valence electron and Cu II (cupric) has two valence electrons. Copper was one of the earliest known metals, having reportedly been mined for over 5000 years. What does the term ‘Valency’ mean? The valency of an element is a measure of its combining capacity and can be defined as the number of electrons that must be lost or gained by an atom to obtain a stable electron configuration. What does the term ‘Oxidation State’ mean? The oxidation state of an atom is the number of electrons lost or gained by it. Oxidation State and valency are one of the most fundamental properties of elements and can be studied with the help of electron ... This table of element valences includes the maximum valence and most common valence values in chemistry. Use this for reference with a periodic table. The valency of copper is 2. This means that it can form two chemical bonds with another element. Copper is widely used in electrical wiring and plumbing.
