The oxidation states displayed by the first half of the first row of transition metals are given in the table below
| Oxidation state | Sc | Ti | V | Cr | Mn |
| +2 | +2 | +2 | +2 | ||
| +3 | +3 | +3 | +3 | +3 | |
| +4 | +4 | +4 | +4 | ||
| +5 | +5 | +6 | |||
| +6 | +7 |
It can be easily observed that except Sc, all others metals display +2 oxidation state. Also, on moving from Sc to Mn, the atomic number increases from 21 to 25. This means the number of electrons in the 3d-orbital also increases from 1 to 5.
Sc (+2) = d1
Ti (+2) = d2
V (+2) = d3
Cr (+2) = d4
Mn (+2) = d5
+2 oxidation state is attained by the loss of the two 4selectrons by these metals. Since the number of delectrons in
(+2) state also increases from Ti(+2) to Mn(+ 2), the stability of +2 state increases (as d-orbital is becoming more and
more half-filled). Mn (+2) has d 5electrons (that is half-filled dshell, which is highly stable).

A ladder of fixed length \( h \) is to be placed along the wall such that it is free to move along the height of the wall.
Based upon the above information, answer the following questions:
(iii) (b) If the foot of the ladder, whose length is 5 m, is being pulled towards the wall such that the rate of decrease of distance \( y \) is \( 2 \, \text{m/s} \), then at what rate is the height on the wall \( x \) increasing when the foot of the ladder is 3 m away from the wall?