Preparation of copper atoms in aqueous solution

Abstract

Copper atoms in aqueous solution have a high reduction potential E~176 +) = --2.7 V [i], which considerably limits the selection of a suitable solvent for the preparation of such atoms by the reduction of Cu § ions. As a consequence of this potential and the high reactivity of these species related to the unpaired electron in the s orbital, copper atoms had not been previously detected in aqueous solution.