One of the characteristics of transition metals is
Answer Details
One of the characteristics of transition metals is the formation of coloured ions. Transition metals have partially filled d-orbitals, which allow for the absorption and reflection of certain wavelengths of light. When transition metals form ions, the arrangement of electrons in the d-orbitals changes, causing the ion to absorb and reflect different wavelengths of light. This results in the ion having a different colour than the original metal. Therefore, the ability of transition metals to form coloured ions is one of their defining characteristics.