Question:medium

Assertion (A) : Zinc, cadmium and mercury are not considered as transition elements.
Reason (R) : These elements have completely filled d-orbitals in their ground state as well as in their common oxidation states.

Show Hint

A common exam trick: All transition elements are d-block elements, but not all d-block elements are transition elements.
Updated On: Jul 22, 2026
  • Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of the Assertion (A).
  • Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of the Assertion (A).
  • Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
  • Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
Show Solution

The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Recall what makes an element a transition element.
An element earns the transition tag only when its atom, or the common ions it forms, has a d-subshell that is not completely filled. That is the whole test we need to apply here.
Step 2: Write out the configurations of Zn, Cd and Hg.
Zinc ($Z=30$) ends in $3d^{10}4s^2$ and loses its two $4s$ electrons to give $\text{Zn}^{2+}$ with $3d^{10}$. Cadmium ($Z=48$) ends in $4d^{10}5s^2$, giving $\text{Cd}^{2+}$ as $4d^{10}$. Mercury ($Z=80$) ends in $5d^{10}6s^2$, giving $\text{Hg}^{2+}$ as $5d^{10}$.
Step 3: Apply the definition to these numbers.
In every case above, both the neutral atom and its usual ion carry a completely filled d-subshell, never a partially filled one. So none of these three metals can be called transition elements, which is exactly what the Reason states, and this is the direct cause of the Assertion being true.
Step 4: Match with the given options.
Since both statements are correct and the Reason is the actual explanation of the Assertion, option (A) is the right choice. \[ \boxed{\text{Option (A): Both A and R are true, R is the correct explanation}} \]
Was this answer helpful?
0