Can Cu (At. No. 29) and Zn (At. No. 30) be called transition elements? Explain.

Explanation

Although Cu-atom in its ground state does not contain incompletely filled d-orbital, but `Cu^(2+)` has partially filled d. orbital and so it is a transition element.
Electronic config: of `Cu:1s^(2)2s^(2)2p^(6)3s^(2)3p^(6)3d^(10)4s^(1)`
Electronic config. of `Cu^(2+):1s^(2)2s^(2)2p^(6)3s^(2)3p^(6)3d^(9)4s^(0)`
In ground state or in any stable oxidation element.
Electronic config. `Zn:1s^(2)2s^(2)2p^(6)3s^(2)3p^(6)3d^(10)4s^(2)`
Electronic config of `Zn^(2+):1s^(2)2s^(2)2p^(6)3s^(2)3p^(6)3d^(10)4s^(0)`.