Question

The variability of oxidation state

• A. a characteristic of transition elements
• B. arises out of incomplete filling of $d$-orbitals in such a way that their oxidation states differ from each other by unity
• C. it differs from the variability of oxidation states of non-transition elements, where the oxidation states normally differ by two unit
• D. All of the above are true

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

(d) The variability of oxidation states is a characteristic of transition elements. It arises due incomplete filling of $d$-orbitals in such a way that their oxidation states differ from each other by unity, e.g. $V^{II},V^{III},V^{IV},V^V$. This is in contrast with the variability of oxidation states of non-transition elements where oxidation states normally differ by a unit of two.