Answer
Most of the transition elements have configurations in which the outer s sub-shell is doubly occupied. These outer electrons will be lost during the process of bond formation first, and we might expect each to be lost with almost equal ease, resulting in +2 ions.
Work Step by Step
Most of the transition elements have configurations in which the outer s sub-shell is doubly occupied. These outer electrons will be lost during the process of bond formation first, and we might expect each to be lost with almost equal ease, resulting in +2 ions.