CUETMOCK
  • Pricing
  • Mentors
Log inStart freeStart free mocks→

First test, then trust

Try a free CUET mock test.

Join 5,00,000+ students who rehearsed exam day on the exact NTA screen before sitting CUET. On the web and on Android.

Start free mocks →Get the Android app
CUETMOCK

India's #1 CUET Mock Test Platform. Original NCERT-based questions on the exact NTA exam screen — trusted by 5,00,000+ students since CUET 2022.

Get it onGoogle PlayScan to download the CUETMOCK app

Mock tests

  • CUET mock test series
  • Commerce mocks
  • Humanities (Arts) mocks
  • Science mocks
  • Languages & GAT mocks
  • Free practice questions
  • Pricing

Resources

  • CUET exam guide
  • CUET syllabus
  • Universities accepting CUET
  • Expert blogs
  • News & notifications
  • Webinars & counselling
  • CUET score calculator
  • How we estimate your rank
  • FAQs

Company

  • About us
  • Our leadership & team
  • Our toppers
  • Mentors
  • For schools
  • Contact us
  • Terms
  • Privacy
  • Refund policy

Talk to us

+91 7696 6630 56info@cuetmock.comWhatsApp us

Our other platforms

  • JEE Mock — For IIT-JEE aspirants
  • NEET Mock — For NEET aspirants

Newsletter

Exam updates, study material and offers — no spam.

© 2026 NYC Ventures Pvt. Ltd.

701-702, Royal Business Park, Zirakpur, Punjab - 140603

  • Terms of use
  • Privacy policy
  • Refund policy
  • Contact us

iCUETMOCK is an independent preparation platform, not affiliated with the National Testing Agency (NTA). Always check exam details on the official NTA website.

  • Home
  • Mock tests
  • CUET guide
  • Pricing
  • Log in
Home/Practice questions/Chemistry
ChemistryInorganic: D and F Block Elements

Which d-block metal pair does not exhibit variable oxidation state?

Transition elements (d-block)

Read the following passage and answer the questions given:

The d-block occupies the large middle section of the periodic table flanked between s- and p-blocks in the modern periodic table. These elements have a general electronic configuration (n-1)d1-10 ns2 (except Pd). These elements possess a partially filled penultimate d-subshell in their ground state. Most of the transition element compounds are colored in solid or in solution state which arise due to excitation of electrons from lower energy d-orbitals to higher energy d-orbitals. The transition metal ions which have completely filled d-orbitals are colorless due to lack of excitation within d-orbitals. Most of the transition metals and their compounds exhibit paramagnetic behavior (attracted by a magnetic field) which is attributed to an incomplete d-subshell and the presence of unpaired electrons. An element or ion having no unpaired electron shows diamagnetic behavior (repelled by a magnetic field). The magnetic moment of transition elements arises due to spin and orbital motion in ions or molecules. The magnetic moment is determined by the number of unpaired electrons (n) and is calculated by using the spin-only formula μ= [n (n+2)]1/2 Bohr magneton (BM). The magnetic moment increases with the increasing number of unpaired electrons. Thus, the observed magnetic moment gives a useful indication about the number of unpaired electrons present in the transition metal or its ions. Transition elements exhibit certain important characteristic properties such as variable oxidation state, complex formation, colored ion formation, catalytic activity and metallic properties like high tensile strength, ductility, malleability etc. Transition metals are hard and have high melting points (with exceptions of Zn, Cd, Hg).

Which d-block metal pair does not exhibit variable oxidation state?

Answer & explanation+

Correct answer: option 4

The correct answer is Option (4) → Sc and Zn

Transition elements show variable oxidation states because the energies of their (n−1)d and ns orbitals are very close. After the ns electrons are lost, one or more d electrons can also be removed, giving several stable oxidation states. An element shows only one oxidation state when losing any other number of electrons does not give a stable arrangement:

  • Sc (Z = 21, [Ar]3d14s2): loses all three outer electrons to reach the stable argon configuration, so it shows only +3.

  • Ti (Z = 22, [Ar]3d24s2): shows +2, +3 and +4.

  • V (Z = 23, [Ar]3d34s2): shows +2, +3, +4 and +5.

  • Zn (Z = 30, [Ar]3d104s2): loses only the two 4s electrons; the full 3d10 set is not used in bonding, so it shows only +2.

  • Option (1) Sc and Ti — Ti shows variable oxidation states. Titanium shows +2, +3 and +4 (only Sc is fixed at +3).

  • Option (2) V and Sc — V shows variable oxidation states. Vanadium shows every state from +2 to +5.

  • Option (3) Ti and V — Both show variable oxidation states. Ti shows +2 to +4 and V shows +2 to +5.

  • Option (4) Sc and Zn — Neither shows variable oxidation states. Sc shows only +3 and Zn only +2.

Note 1: It seems that there is a mistake in the original NTA paper. The passage gives the general electronic configuration of the d-block elements as (n−1)d1–10 ns2 (except Pd). The correct general configuration is (n−1)d1–10 ns1–2, because some elements have only one ns electron, such as Cr (3d54s1) and Cu (3d104s1), and Pd (4d105s0) has none.

NCERT (2026-27 edition):
Oxidation States

Textbook extract

Note 2: The same/similar question has been asked in different years by NTA as per the details given below:

20262025202420232022
14-05 S2
11-05 S1
––––

Advertisement

Practise more on Inorganic: D and F Block Elements

Chapter-wise mocks on the real NTA exam screen, with solutions and your rank. Your first mocks are free.

Start free mocks →

Advertisement

Next questions

  1. Which of the following statements are correct?(A) Sinking fund can be used only for the purpose it was created.(B) Sinking fund is a fixed…Applied Maths. Section B2 · Financial Mathematics
  2. The process of transferring the blastomeres up to 8 cells into the fallopian tube of recipient female is called:Biology · Reproductive Health
  3. Identify the combination of given steps involved in the process of decomposition.A. FragmentationB. StratificationC. HumificationD. Catabol…Biology · Ecosystem
  4. Which among the following statements are correct about resistance to globalisation?(A) Those on the left believe that contemporary globalis…Political Science · Contemporary World Politics: Globalisation
  5. Which of the following amine can be synthesized by Gabriel phthalimide synthesis?Chemistry · Organic: Amines
  6. If X has a Poisson distribution such that 2P(X=1)=P(X=2) , then which of the following are correct?A. The mean of X is 4B. The mean of X is…Applied Maths. Section B2 · Probability Distributions
  7. Which among the following metals is liquid at room temperature?General Aptitude Test · General Knowledge
  8. Rearrange the following phrases in the correct sequence to form a meaningful sentence:-(A) he claimed was a lucky plant(B) three pencil-siz…English · Arrange in Meaningful Sequence
  9. Choose the most appropriate option to fill in the blank in the given sentence:My daughter probably thinks I am making up the stories about…English · Grammar: Adverb
  10. Match List-I with List-IIList-IList-II(Electric Field Intensity)(Characteristics)(A) Electrical field intensity outside a uniformly charged…Physics · Electric Charges and Fields