Topic 15 (Part 1) - Principles of Transition Metal Chemistry Flashcards
What is the definition of a d-block element?
An element where the last electron added is in the d - sub shell
How many orbitals are there in a d - sub shell?
5
How many electrons are there in a d - sub shell?
10
What is the definition of a transition metal?
A transition metal is a d - block element which forms one or more stable ions with an incomplete d - subshell
What elements are d - block elements
Sc -> Zn
Why do you normally fill the 4s sub shell before the 3d sub shell?
As the 4s sub shell is at a lower energy level in comparison to the 3d sub shell
When a d-block element becomes an ion which electrons are removed first?
The electrons in the 4s sub shell
Why are the 4s electrons removed first even though they were filled first?
As soon as the 4s sub shell gets filled it acts as the higher energy level sub shell (due to repulsion)
What are the exceptions to the 4s sub shell being filled before the 3d sub shell?
Cr - [Ar] 3d5 4s1
Cu - [Ar] 3d10 4s1
Why are copper and chromium exceptions to the 4s sub shell being filled before the 3d sub shell rule?
They are exceptions because having a full or half filled 3d sub shell is more stable than having a filled 4s sub shell and only partly filled 3d sub shell
Write the electronic configuration for Fe
[Ar] 3d6 4s2
Write the electronic configuration for Cr
[Ar] 3d5 4s1
Write the electronic configuration for Cu
[Ar] 3d10 4s1
Write the electronic configuration for Zn 2+
[Ar] 3d10
Write the electronic configuration for Fe 3+
[Ar] 3d5
Write the electronic configuration for Sc
[Ar] 3d1 4s2
Which 2 d-block elements are not classified as transition metals?
Zinc, Zn, and Scandium, Sc
Why are Sc and Zn not classified as transition metals?
Zn only forms the Zn2+ ion which has a full 3d sub shell, therefore, not a transition metal
Sc only form the Sc3+ ion which has an empty d sub shell, therefore, not a transition metal
What are 5 general properties of transition metals?
- Form complex ions in solutions as ligands join onto the transition metal centre
- They form at least 1 stable ion with an incomplete d-subshell
- They have variable oxidation states
- They are very useful/commonly used as catalysts
- They form coloured compounds
Why do transition metals have variable oxidation states?
- There is not a large energy difference between the 3d and 4s sub shell
- Successive ionisation energies increase gradually until all the 4s and 3d electrons have been removed OR until a stable configuration of electrons is reached
Why is the +2 oxidation state formed by all the transition metals?
This is because all of them can lose 2 electrons form there outer 4s sub shell, as they are the first to go.
Why does Fe form the +2 and +3 oxidation states?
Fe 2+ - formed when 2 electrons are lost from the 4s sub shell
Fe 3+ - formed when 2 electrons are lost from the 4s sub shell and 1 is lost form the 3d sub shell leaving 3d5 which offers the ion stability
Why is the first ionisation energy pretty much the same across all transition metals/ d-block element?
As the first electrons are all removed from the 4s sub shell.
NB: There is a slight increase in first ionisation energy across transition metal elements - this is due to increasing atomic number, therefore, there are more protons in the nucleus (higher nuclear charge) and so stringer forces of attraction between the nucleus and the valence electrons.
However, there is same shielding across all elements as they are all removed form the same shell.
What peaks are there in the second ionisation energy of transition metals?
Chromium and Copper