Question

why silver exhibits a valency of +1 and +2.

Answer 1

This property is called as variable valency. Some elements show variable valency because of the different electronic configurations. An atom of an element can sometimes lose more electrons than are present in its valence shell i.e. loss from the penultimate shell and hence exhibit more than 1 or variable valency.

Answer 2

Hello dear,

● Answer -
- Silver has electronic configuration [Kr] 4d^10 5s^1.
- Being a d-block element, it has ability to show variable oxidation states.
- Usually silver loses one electron from 5s to exhibit valency +1.
- At other times, silver loses one electron from 5s & 4d each to show valency +2.


Thanks for asking..