Question

What are the transition elements ? Write two characteristics of the transition elements.

Answer 1

Elements which in their ground state or in any of their oxidation state have partially filled d-orbital are called transition elements. The name transition given to the elements of d-block is only because of their position between s-block and p-block elements.

The two characteristics of transition elements are:

(i) They show variable oxidation states.

(ii) They generally form coloured compounds.