Zinc As Non-typical Transition Metal
Zinc is often regarded as not being a typical transition element despite lying in the d-block; what is the reason for this exclusion?
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About This Question
- Subject
- chemistry
- Chapter
- d- and f-block elements
- Topic
- zinc as non-typical transition metal
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Year
- 2025
Solution
Correct Answer:
Its d-orbital is completely filled in both atom and common ion
A typical transition element is defined as one that has a partly filled d-subshell either in its atomic state or in one of its common ions, because the partly filled d-orbitals give rise to characteristic transition properties like variable oxidation states, colour, and paramagnetism. Zinc has the configuration 3d^10 4s^2, and its common ion Zn^2+ has the configuration 3d^10, a completely filled d-subshell in both the atom and the ion. Because it lacks a partly filled d-orbital, zinc does not show the typical transition properties; its compounds are usually colourless and diamagnetic and it shows only the +2 oxidation state. Hence zinc is not regarded as a typical transition element. The option of a partly filled d-orbital is incorrect, since its d-subshell is full. The option of no d-electrons is wrong, as it has ten. The option that it is a non-metal is false. This definition is a standard NCERT d-block clarification. Plausibility check: the colourless, diamagnetic nature and single oxidation state of zinc compounds confirm the absence of typical transition behaviour.
This easy difficulty chemistry question is from the chapter d- and f-block elements, covering the topic of zinc as non-typical transition metal. It appeared in the 2025 exam.
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