Module 5 Section 3: Transition Elements Flashcards
(88 cards)
What types of elements are d block elements
D-block elements are all metallic
Transition metal characteristics
High melting points and boiling points
Shiny in appearance
Conduct both electricity and heat
Uses of transition metals
Copper, silver, nickel, zinc: coinage
Iron: construction and tools
Copper: electrical appliances and water pipes
Titanium: aerospace industry and medical applications (joint replacements)
Draw electron configurations of chromium and copper
Why do copper and chromium have exceptional electron configurations
A half filled d5 subshell (chromium) and a fully filled d10 subshell (copper) give additional stability
What happens when the d block elements scandium - zinc form positive ions
Lose their 4s electrons before losing any 3d electrons
When forming an atom the 4s orbital fills before the 3d orbitals
When forming an ion the 4s orbital empties before the 3d orbitals
Explain the exceptional electron configuration of chromium
Chromium prefers to have 1 electron in each orbital of the 3d subshell and just one in the 4s subshell
This gives it more stability
Explain the exceptional electron configuration of copper
Copper prefers to have a full 3d subshell and just one electron in the 4s subshell
It’s more stable that way
Copper forms a stable Cu2+ ion by losing 2 electrons.
The Cu2+ ion has an incomplete d subshell
What happens when iron forms it’s ions
Draw the electron configurations of each
Iron can form Fe2+ and Fe3+ ions
When it forms 2+ ions, it loses both its 4s electrons
Only once the 4s electrons are removed can a 3d electron be removed
Definition of transition metals
A transition element is a d block element that can form at least one stable ion with an incomplete d subshell
Why is scandium not classed as a transition metal
Scandium only forms one ion, Sc3+, which has an empty d sub-shell.
Scandium has the electron configuration 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d1 4s2
It loses three electrons to form Sc3+
This has the electron configuration 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6
Why is zinc not classed as a transition metal
Zinc only forms one ion Zn2+ which has a full d sub-shell Zinc has the electron configuration 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2.
When it forms Zn2+ it loses 2 electrons, both from the 4s sub-shell — so it keeps its full 3d sub-shell.
Unique features of transition elements
Transition elements can exist in variable oxidation states
Form different coloured ions
Can make good catalysts
Colours of aqueous solution containing titanium ions
Ti3+: purple
Ti2+: violet
Colours of aqueous solution containing vanadium ions
VO2 +: yellow (1+ charge)
VO2+: blue (2+ charge)
V3+: green
V2+: violet
Colours of aqueous solution containing chromium ions
Cr2O7 2-: orange
Cr3+: pale purple (looks green (I don’t know why either🤷🏻♂️))
Colours of aqueous solution containing manganese ions
MnO4-: purple
MnO4 2-: green
Mn2+: pale pink
Colours of aqueous solution containing iron ions
Fe3+: yellow
Fe2+: pale green
Colours of aqueous solution containing cobalt ions
Co2+: pink
Colours of aqueous solution containing nickel ions
Ni2+: green
Colours of aqueous solution containing copper ions
Cu2+: pale blue
Why do transition metals show variable oxidation states
The energy levels of the 4s and 3d subshells are very close to one another
So different numbers of electrons can be gained or lost using fairly similar amounts of energy
Draw out table of transition metals in 4th period and all their colours for oxidation numbers ranging from +7 to +2
Electron configuration of copper