Question

Why is Zinc not a transition element?

Answer 1

Transition elements:

1. Transition elements are elements with partly filled d orbitals.
2. These are also known as transition metals.
3. They have an incompletely filled d orbital or a d subshell that is partly filled with electrons and the capacity to produce stable cations.

Zinc:

1. Zinc is a chemical element with the atomic number 30 and the symbol $\mathrm{Zn}$.
2. Zinc is not a transition metal since its d subshells are not partly filled $(\mathrm{n}-1)$.
3. It has an electrical configuration that is $(\mathrm{n}-1){\mathrm{d}}^{10}{\mathrm{ns}}^2$ in nature.
4. $\left[\mathrm{Ar}\right]3{\mathrm{d}}^{10}4{\mathrm{s}}^2$ is the electronic structure of Zinc.
5. It always gives out a $2+$ ion with the electrical structure $\left[\mathrm{Ar}\right]3{\mathrm{d}}^{10}$ when it produces ions by losing the two 4s electrons.
6. The zinc ion does not fit the criterion since it possesses fully filled d orbitals.

Hence this is the reason why zinc is not a transition element.