the d subshells
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Transition elements typically fill the 3d and 4s sublevels across the Periodic Table. As you move across the transition elements from left to right, electrons are added to the 3d sublevel until it is full, before filling the 4s sublevel.
The first transition series includes the filling of the 3d sublevel orbitals in transition metal elements from Scandium (Sc) to Zinc (Zn). These elements gradually fill the 3d orbital with electrons as they progress across the period, leading to the formation of various oxidation states and colorful compounds due to the presence of partially filled d orbitals.
The set of elements that has electrons added to the 4f sublevel as the atomic number increases are the lanthanide series elements, from cerium (Z = 58) to lutetium (Z = 71). The 4f sublevel can hold up to 14 electrons per element, hence as we move across this series, electrons are successively added to the 4f sublevel.
The atomic radius of 3d transition metals decreases as you move from left to right across the periodic table. This is due to the increasing nuclear charge and the filling of the d orbitals, which results in stronger attraction between the nucleus and the electrons, leading to a smaller atomic radius.
Elements across a series have the same number of attributes or characteristics.
The trend in period 2 ionization energy across the elements increases from left to right.