Cu has 4s1 3d10 configuration so why it does not gain 1 electron and complete its suborbital. Why it looses its 2 electrons to become Cu++ which is more stable. Why?
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$\begingroup$ chemistry.stackexchange.com/questions/11069/… $\endgroup$– MithoronAug 9, 2016 at 14:27
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$\begingroup$ @Mithoron This question is about Cu2+ versus Cu-, while the question you linked is Cu2+ versus Cu+. $\endgroup$– DavePhDAug 9, 2016 at 14:47
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Copper can gain 1 electron to become Cu-.
Copper has an electron affinity of 1.236 eV, so Cu- is stable to electron loss by 1.236 eV.
See also "The Dissocationi Energy and Heat of Formation of the Molecule NaCu" Z. Naturforsch. 28a, 316-317 which says:
But unlike as for NaAg a noticable ionic contribution to the bonding is observed for NaCu
Also there is Resonant two-photon ionization spectroscopy of LiCu :
The unusual shape of this curve is thought to derive from avoided crossings between the $\ce{Li^+Cu^-}$ ion pair state and covalent states, with the $\ce{Li^+Cu^-}$ ion pair state ultimately correlating to the ground electronic state of the molecule.
So if Cu is to make a compound with an electronegative element, Cu should lose electrons, but with an electropositive element it can gain an electron.