Complete the exercises below. Which periodic trend is partially responsible for the observation that the maximum oxidation state of the transition-metal elements peaks near groups 7B and 8B? a. The number of valence electrons reaches a maximum at group 8B. b. The effective nuclear charge increases on moving right across each period. c. The radii of the transition-metal elements reach a minimum for group 8B, and as the size of the atoms decreases it becomes easier to remove electrons.

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the periodic trends involved in the problem. The periodic table shows trends in properties such as atomic radius, ionization energy, and effective nuclear charge as you move across a period or down a group.
2. Step 2: Consider the trend of the number of valence electrons. In transition metals, the number of valence electrons generally increases as you move from left to right across a period, reaching a maximum at group 8B.
3. Step 3: Analyze the effective nuclear charge trend. As you move across a period from left to right, the effective nuclear charge experienced by the valence electrons increases, which can affect the ability of an atom to lose or gain electrons.
4. Step 4: Examine the trend in atomic radii. The atomic radius generally decreases across a period due to the increasing effective nuclear charge, which pulls the electron cloud closer to the nucleus.
5. Step 5: Relate these trends to the oxidation states of transition metals. The maximum oxidation state of transition metals is influenced by the number of valence electrons and the effective nuclear charge, which affects the ease of electron removal. Consider how these factors peak around groups 7B and 8B.