question_answer 14)

 To what extent do the electronic configurations decide the stability or oxidation states in the first series of the transition elements? Illustrate your answer with an example.

Answer:

The presence of half filled or completely filled d-orbitals imparts stability to a particular element/ion. For example, let us write the different oxidation states of Mn (Z = 25) along with the electronic configurations. The configuration of the element is [Ar] 3d5 4s2, Mn2+ ; [Ar] 3d5, Mn3+; [Ar] 3d4, Mn4+; [Ar] 3d3 +2 oxidation state of the element is likely to be the most stable because the corresponding electronic configuration of Mn2+ is highly symmetrical (all the five 3d-orbitals are half filled).