Q.On what ground can you say that scandium (Z = 21) is a transition element but zinc (Z = 30) is not?

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1. CBSE 2026Set 56/1/11 markMCQ
   Q.Which of the following is not a transition metal ? (A) Sc (B) Ag (C) Hg (D) Cu

   ›Reveal solutionSolution

   Transition metals are defined by having partially filled d-orbitals in their common oxidation states. Mercury (Hg) has a full d¹⁰ configuration in both its elemental and common +2 state, so it is not a transition metal. The correct answer is (C).

   Why This Definition Matters

   The classification of transition metals isn't about being a metal or having d-electrons — it's about partially filled d-orbitals in the atom or in any common ion. This is the IUPAC definition. If an element's d-subshell is completely full (d¹⁰) in all its common forms, it doesn't qualify, even if it sits in the d-block of the periodic table.

   Let's check each option against this rule.

   1. Scandium (Sc, Z=21)

      Electronic configuration: $[\text{Ar}]\,3d^1 4s^2$.

      Its common ion is Sc³⁺: $[\text{Ar}]$ — the 3d orbital is empty.

      But the atom has a partially filled d-orbital (3d¹). The definition says "in the atom or in any common oxidation state." Since the atom itself has an incomplete d-subshell, Sc is a transition metal.

   2. Silver (Ag, Z=47)

      Configuration: $[\text{Kr}]\,4d^{10} 5s^1$.

      Common ion: Ag⁺ → $[\text{Kr}]\,4d^{10}$ — full d-subshell.

      However, silver also forms Ag²⁺ (e.g., in AgF₂), which has $4d^9$ — a partially filled d-orbital. Because at least one common oxidation state (Ag²⁺) has an incomplete d-subshell, Ag qualifies as a transition metal.

   3. Mercury (Hg, Z=80)

      Configuration: $[\text{Xe}]\,4f^{14} 5d^{10} 6s^2$.

      Common ions: Hg²⁺ → $[\text{Xe}]\,4f^{14} 5d^{10}$ (full d¹⁰); Hg₂²⁺ (dimeric) also has each Hg with a full d¹⁰ core.

      Mercury does not form any stable ion with a partially filled d-orbital. Its d-subshell is always full. Therefore, Hg is not a transition metal.

   4. Copper (Cu, Z=29)

      Configuration: $[\text{Ar}]\,3d^{10} 4s^1$. …

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2. CBSE 2026Set 56/2/11 markMCQ
   Q.Assertion (A) : Zinc, cadmium and mercury are not considered as transition elements. Reason (R) : These elements have completely filled orbitals in their ground state as well as in their common oxidation states.

   ›Reveal solutionSolution

   The key idea is that transition elements are defined by having partially filled d-orbitals in their ground state or common oxidation states. Since Zn, Cd, and Hg have completely filled d¹⁰ configurations in both, they fail this criterion. Thus, both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and (R) correctly explains (A).

   Why this approach works

   The definition of a transition element is not arbitrary — it stems from the unique chemistry of d-block elements. The IUPAC defines a transition element as an element whose atom has a partially filled d-subshell, or which can give rise to cations with an incomplete d-subshell. This means we must check two things: the ground state electron configuration of the neutral atom, and the configurations of its common oxidation states. If either has a partially filled d-orbital, the element qualifies. If both are completely filled, it does not.

   Zinc, cadmium, and mercury sit at the end of their respective d-block series (Group 12). Their neutral atoms have the configuration $(n-1)d^{10} ns^2$ — the d-subshell is full. Their common oxidation state is +2, formed by losing the two s-electrons, leaving $(n-1)d^{10}$ — still full. No partially filled d-orbital appears anywhere. Hence, they are not transition elements.

   Let’s walk through the reasoning step by step.

   1. Recall the defining criterion for transition elements.

      A transition element must have an atom or a common ion with an incomplete d-subshell. This is the official IUPAC definition. Elements that have completely filled d-orbitals in both the ground state and all common oxidation states are excluded.

   2. Examine the ground state configurations of Zn, Cd, and Hg.

      • Zinc ($Z = 30$): $[Ar] 3d^{10} 4s^2$
      • Cadmium ($Z = 48$): $[Kr] 4d^{10} 5s^2$
      • Mercury ($Z = 80$): $[Xe] 4f^{14} 5d^{10} 6s^2$ In each case, the d-subshell is completely filled ($d^{10}$). No partially filled d-orbital exists in the neutral atom.

   3. Check their common oxidation states.

      The most stable and common oxidation state for all three is +2. For example:

      • Zn loses its two 4s electrons to form $Zn^{2+}$: $[Ar] 3d^{10}$
      • Cd loses its two 5s electrons to form $Cd^{2+}$: $[Kr] 4d^{10}$
      • Hg loses its two 6s electrons to form $Hg^{2+}$: $[Xe] 4f^{14} 5d^{10}$ In every case, the d-subshell remains completely filled. No partially filled d-orbital appears in any common oxidation state. …

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3. CBSE 2026Set DZ1 markMCQ
   Q.Which of the following is not a transition metal?

   (a) Cu

   (b) Cr

   (c) Fe

   (d) Na

   ›Reveal solutionSolution

   A transition metal has a partially filled d-subshell (in the atom or a common ion). Cu, Cr and Fe qualify; Na does not — so option (d).

   A transition element is defined as one whose atom or one of its stable ions has an incompletely filled d-orbital.

   • Cu ($[Ar]3d^{10}4s^1$): forms $Cu^{2+}$ ($3d^9$) — partially filled d → transition metal.
   • Cr ($[Ar]3d^{5}4s^1$) — partially filled d → transition metal. …

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4. CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQ
   Q.Transition element among the following is

   (a) Zinc

   (b) Cadmium

   (c) Cerium

   (d) Rutherfordium

   ›Reveal solutionSolution

   A transition element is defined as one having a partially (incompletely) filled d-subshell in the ground state or in any of its common oxidation states.

   • Zinc (3d10 4s2) and Cadmium (4d10 5s2) have a completely filled d-subshell in the atom AND in their only common +2 ion, so they are NOT classified as transition elements (they are 'post-transition'/group 12 metals).
   • Cerium is an f-block (lanthanide) element, not d-block. …

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5. CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 mark
   Q.Why is Zn not considered as transition element? (Z = 30)

   ›Reveal solutionSolution

   Transition elements must have partly filled d-orbitals in the elemental or common ionic state; zinc's d-subshell is always completely full, so it does not qualify.

   Zinc (Z = 30) has the electronic configuration [Ar] 3d10 4s2. When it forms its common oxidation state, Zn2+, it loses the two 4s electrons, giving [Ar] 3d10 - the d-subshell remains completely filled (all 10 electrons present) in both the metal and its ion.

   …

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6. CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQ
   Q.Chromium belongs to which block?

   (a) s-block

   (b) p-block

   (c) d-block

   (d) f-block

   ›Reveal solutionSolution

   Chromium (Z=24) has the configuration [Ar] 3d⁵ 4s¹, placing it in the d-block.

   Chromium has atomic number 24 and electronic configuration [Ar] 3d⁵ 4s¹ (an exception to the expected 3d⁴4s², arising from the extra stability of a half-filled d-subshell). Since its last-entering electron occupies a …

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7. CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 mark
   Q.______ block elements are called transition elements.

   ›Reveal solutionSolution

   d-block elements are called transition elements.

   The periodic table is divided into four blocks (s, p, d, f) based on which subshell receives the last (differentiating) electron. Elements in which the last electron enters a d-orbital form the d-block, spanning groups 3 to 12. These are called transition elements because most of them have partially filled d-orbitals in their elemental or common ionic states, giving them properties 'transitional' between the highly reactive s-b …

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8. CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQ
   Q.Transition metals have incomplete

   (a) s-orbital

   (b) p-orbital

   (c) d-orbital

   (d) f-orbital

   ›Reveal solutionSolution

   Transition metals have incomplete d-orbitals.

   Transition elements are defined as those whose atoms or stable ions have partially filled (incomplete) d-orbitals. This partly filled d-subshell is responsible for their characteristic properties: var …

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9. CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQ
   Q.Total number of elements are in d-block is ______

   (a) 39

   (b) 40

   (c) 38

   (d) 36

   ›Reveal solutionSolution

   Four transition series of 10 elements each -> 40 d-block elements.

   The d-block (transition elements) consists of elements in which the last electron enters a d-subshell. There are four such series:

   • 3d series (Sc to Zn),
   • 4d series (Y to Cd),
   • 5d series (La/Hf to Hg),
   • 6d series (Ac/Rf onward). …

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10. CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 mark
    Q.Fill in the blank: Zn, Cd and Hg generally do not considered as a ______ elements.

    ›Reveal solutionSolution

    Zn, Cd and Hg are not true transition elements because their d-orbitals are completely filled.

    A transition element is defined as one that has a partially filled d-subshell in its atomic state or in one of its common oxidation (ionic) states. Zinc, cadmium and mercury have the configuration (n-1)d10 ns2, and even in their common +2 ions they are (n-1)d10 - the d-subshell is completely filled. Since they …

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11. CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQ
    Q.Choose the correct order of atomic and ionic radii of chlorine atom and chloride (Cl-) ion (in pm) is

    (a) a) 136 and 90

    (b) b) 167 and 99

    (c) c) 99 and 181

    (d) d) 186 and 90

    ›Reveal solutionSolution

    [!TLDR]

    c) 99 and 181

    Why

    The covalent/atomic radius of Cl is about 99 pm, while the Cl- ion is larger (extra electron, same n …

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12. CBSE 2025Set 56/6/11 markMCQ
    Q.Which of the following is the softest metal ? (A) Zn (B) Sc (C) Cu (D) Fe

    ›Reveal solutionSolution

    Softness in metals is determined by how easily their atoms slide past one another; among the transition elements listed, scandium (Sc) has the weakest metallic bonding due to having only one $d$-electron available for bonding, making it the softest. The answer is (B).

    Understanding Metallic Softness

    Hardness in metals arises from the strength of metallic bonding—the electrostatic attraction between the "sea" of delocalized electrons and the positive metal ions. The more electrons available for delocalization (especially from $d$-orbitals in transition metals), and the smaller the atomic radius, the stronger the bonding and the harder the metal.

    Conversely, a soft metal has weaker metallic bonds. Its atoms can slide past one another more easily under stress, making it malleable and easy to deform.

    Comparing the Four Metals

    Let's examine each candidate by looking at their electronic configurations and the number of electrons contributing to metallic bonding:

    1. Zinc (Zn): Electronic configuration $[\text{Ar}] \, 3d^{10} \, 4s^2$

       All ten $d$-electrons are paired in filled orbitals. While the two $4s$ electrons participate in bonding, the filled $d^{10}$ subshell contributes relatively little to directional bonding. Zinc is moderately soft but not the softest here.

    2. Scandium (Sc): Electronic configuration $[\text{Ar}] \, 3d^1 \, 4s^2$

       Only one $d$-electron is available. This is the first transition metal in the series, with minimal $d$-orbital participation in bonding. The metallic bond is weak because there are fewer electrons to delocalize and the $d$-orbitals are only just beginning to fill. Scandium is notably soft and can be cut with a knife.

    3. Copper (Cu): Electronic configuration $[\text{Ar}] \, 3d^{10} \, 4s^1$ …

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