✨Module 5: Transition metals

Question 1

Properties of transition metals?

Answer 1

-> Have variable oxidation states so can donate or accept electrons easily.
-> Form coloured compounds depending on their oxidation state. This is useful in titrations as you can see the end point.
-> Catalytic activity.
-> Complex ion formation by binding to ligands.

Question 2

Transition metal characteristics of the elements …

Answer 2

Ti to Cu arise from an incomplete d sub-shell in ions.

Question 3

Transition metal electronic configurations. What is special about chromium and copper?

Answer 3

Sc - 1s22s22p63s23p6 4s23d1
Ti - 1s22s22p63s23p6 4s23d2
V - 1s22s22p63s23p6 4s23d3
Cr - 1s22s22p63s23p6 4s13d5
Mn - 1s22s22p63s23p6 4s23d5
Fe - 1s22s22p63s23p6 4s23d6
Co - 1s22s22p63s23p6 4s23d7
Ni - 1s22s22p63s23p6 4s23d8
Cu - 1s22s22p63s23p6 4s13d10
Zn - 1s22s22p63s23p6 4s23d10

A half filled d5 subshell and fully filled d10 subshell gives stability for chromium and copper.

Question 4

Why is scandium and zinc not a transition metal?

Answer 4

When they lose electrons to form their specific ion, they either have a fully filled or empty d-subshell.
Sc3+ [Ar] 4s03d0
Zn 2+ [Ar] 4s03d10

Ti 3+ [Ar] 4s03d1
V3+ [Ar] 4s03d2
Cr 3+ [Ar] 4s03d3
Mn 2+ [Ar] 4s03d5
Fe 3+ [Ar] 4s03d5
Co 2+ [Ar] 4s03d7
Ni 2+ [Ar] 4s03d8
Cu 2+ [Ar] 4s03d9