How is the variability in oxidation states fo transition metals different from that of the non transition metaals?
Illustrate with examples.

Explanation

The variability of oxidation states in transition elements arise because of the participation of (n-1) d-orbitals and ns orbitals. These different oxidation states of transition elements differ by unity. For example, vanadium shows oxidation states of +2, +3, +4 and +5, manganese shows oxidation states of +2, +3, +4, +5, +6 and +7. On the other hand, some non-transition elements of p-block show variable oxidation states which differ by a unit of two. For example, tin has oxidation states +2 and +4, indium has +1 and +3, etc.