Topic 15 Transition Metals Flashcards
What is the definition of transition metals?
d-block elements that form one or more stable ions with incompletely filled d-orbitals
Why aren’t Scandium and Zinc non transition metals?
Zn can only have 2+ charge (lost from 4s orbital, no e-s can be lost from d block, most stable full)
Sc only does 3+ charge (can only form an empty d-block, symmetrical again)
When are d block elements most stable?
Half full (5 electrons)
Or full (10 electrons)
Why can transition metals change oxidation numbers so much?
3d energy level is very close to 4s, transition metals usually lose 4s and capable of losing any unpair 3d e-s as well
What are properties of transition metals?
- form complex ions
- colourful compounds
- catalytic properties (both ions and compounds)
- variable oxidation states
- hard / dense / high mp bp
What does hydrated mean for ions?
Ions surrounded by H2O molecules
How do transition metals interact with water?
covalent bonds
(dative sometimes)
What are properties of transition metal complex ions?
- small
- highly charged = high charge density
What is a ligand?
Ion or molecules w lone pair
forms dative covalent bond with a (transitional) metal ion (except aluminium)
Forming complex ions
How to write a complex ion?
[M(H2O)6] ^3+ (aq)
What do molecules with lone pairs have to be?
nucleophile
What is a monodentate ligand?
Has 1 lone pair
What is a bidentate ligand?
Has 2 lone pairs that are the same distance from each other so they can form 2 co-ordinate bonds
eg H2N-CH2CH2-NH2
What is a coordination number?
number of dative covalent bonds
(NOT number of ligands)
Chromium has oxidation numbers +2, +3, +6.
Why can chromium show variable oxidation numbers? (1 mark)
- 3d and 4s orbitals have similar energy levels to remove an e-
- ionisation energies are similar in value
How to work out transition metal compounds that are unlikely to exist?
Eg electronic configuration 3d5 4s1
There are only 6 electrons to lose
So ox num 7+ and above are unlikely to exist
Are electrons from transition metals lost from 3d or 4s orbital first?
4s ALWAYS
Explain why brass is malleable but sodium chloride is not. (3 marks)
- brass is alloyed with similar sized atoms
- so layers can slide
In NaCl - any shift in ionic lattice will repel
- won’t occur in brass as delocalised e-s prevents repulsion
Why is vanadium classified as a transition metal?
It forms stable ions with incompletely filled d orbitals
Why does Cu have extra high 2nd ionisation energy / big jump from 1st?
2nd e- is from 3d not 4s
What complexes form square planar complex ions?
Pt 2+ and Ni 2+
What angle is octahedral complexes?
90 degrees
Why is Cl- as ligands, forming only 4 single co-ordinate bond with Cu 2+ not 6?
What shape does it make?
Cl- ions are large
So can only fit 4, not 6
Makes tetrahedral, 109.5
What is the most common bidentate ligand and give molecular formula.
1,2-diaminoethane
NH2CH2CH2NH2