Transition Element

Name:
Transition Element
Detailed information:
(transition metal).Any of a number of elements in which the filling of the outermost shell to eight electrons within a period is interrupted to bring the penultimate shell from 8 to 18 or 32 electrons. Only these elements can use penultimate shell orbitals as well as outermost shell orbitals in bonding. All other elements, called “major group” elements, can use only outermost shell orbitals in bonding. Transition elements include elements 21 through 29 (scandium through copper), 39 through 47 (yttbrium through silver), 57 through 79 (lanthanum through gold), and all known elements from 89(actinium) on. All are metals. Many are noted for exhibiting a variety of oxidation states and forming numerous complex ions, as well as possessing extremely valuable properties in the metallic state.See Orbital Theory.