What is the difference between the representative elements and the transition elements?

Answer 1

The elements in group 1 and 2 are the representative elements. Groups 3 through 12 are the transition elements. Transition elements are all metals and are found less noticably than they do across a period of representative elements. representative elements are always found in nature combined with other elements, they are all metals except for hydrogen.

Answer 2

One major difference is that among representative elements, the number of valence electrons increases along a Periodic Table row by one with each increase of atomic number by one, but along a row of transition elements, all of them have the same or nearly the same number of valence electrons, because the "differentiating electron" of one element from the one immediately preceding it in atomic number usually goes into a non-valence orbital.

Answer 3

Representative elements are found in the s and p blocks of the periodic table and include groups 1, 2, and 13-18. They typically form ionic compounds with other elements. Transition elements are found in the d and f blocks, exhibit multiple oxidation states, and often form complex ions and colored compounds.

Answer 4

When representative elements react, they have their s- and p-orbitals filled with valence electrons. When transitional elements react, their d-orbitals filled with valence electrons.