The element which show only one oxidation state other than its elemental form is :
Correct Answer :
Scandium
Solution :
The correct answer is Scandium.
Step-by-Step Explanation:
1. Variable Oxidation States in Transition Metals:
Transition metals (d-block elements) typically exhibit variable oxidation states. This is because the energy difference between the orbitals and the orbital is very small, allowing electrons from both subshells to participate in bond formation.
2. Electronic Configuration and Stability of Scandium ():
Scandium has an atomic number of 21. Its ground-state electronic configuration is:
To achieve chemical stability, Scandium easily loses its two electrons and one electron. Losing these three electrons results in a stable, closed-shell noble gas configuration corresponding to Argon ():
Because the noble gas core is extremely stable, it is highly unfavorable to remove further electrons, and because losing fewer than three electrons does not yield a stable configuration, Scandium does not exhibit intermediate oxidation states like +1 or +2. Therefore, the only oxidation state Scandium shows (other than 0 in its elemental form) is +3.
3. Comparison with Other Options:
- Titanium (): Has the electronic configuration and exhibits multiple oxidation states such as +2, +3, and +4.
- Nickel (): Has the electronic configuration and exhibits multiple oxidation states including +2, +3, and +4.
- Cobalt (): Has the electronic configuration and shows variable oxidation states such as +2, +3, and +4.
Consequently, Scandium is the only element among the choices that exhibits only a single oxidation state (+3) other than its elemental state.
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