Question

A transition ekement that has lowest enthalpy of atomisition

Answer 1

Answer:

Cu

Explanation:

Transition elements are characterized by their ability to show variable oxidation states and form strong metallic bonds due to which they are called hard metals and have extremely high melting and boiling points.

The ability to form strong metallic bonds originates from the presence of unpaired electrons in the valence shell. As the number of unpaired electrons increases on going left to right in the transition metal series, the tendency to form metal-metal bonds also enhances. Therefore the strength of metallic bonds increases from scandium to manganese and then goes on decreasing as the electrons again start to form pairs.

The enthalpy of atomization is directly proportional to the strength of metallic bonds i.e. stronger bonds require higher energies to break apart and give individual atoms. Therefore the enthalpy of atomization also depends on the number of unpaired electrons.

Though zinc has the least number of unpaired electrons yet it is not the transition metal with lowest atomization enthalpy. The transition metal with lowest enthalpy of atomization is copper (with only one unpaired electron).