Question

In what way is the electronic configuration of the transition elements different from that of the non-transition elements?

Answer 1

Transition metals have a partially filled d−orbital. Therefore, the electronic configuration of transition elements is (n − 1)d^1-10 ns^0-2.

The non-transition elements either do not have a d−orbital or have a fully filled d−orbital.
Therefore, the electronic configuration of non-transition elements is ns^1-2 or ns2 np1-6.