D-Block Element
D-Block Element
d-block element
Transition elements are those elements which have partially filled d or f orbitals in their atomic or
in any common oxidation state.
They are located between s and p block elements in the periodic table.
d-block are known as outer transition and f block are known as inner transition.
Valance shell electronic configuration of (n–1) d1–10 ns0,–2 outer transition element (n–1)d is
penultimate orbital) inner orbit where ns is outer orbit.
The elements of II-B i.e. Zn, Cd and Hg do not have partially filled d-sub-shell in the elemental
state or ionic state. They do not show the typical properties of the transition elements to an
appreciable extent.
The elements of the group III-B are 21Sc, 39Y and 57La. They do not show many of the typical
properties of transition elements. In the compound state, they show tri-positive ion i.e. Sc+3, Y+3
and La+3. In this way, they do not have any electron in d-orbital. For this reason, the elements of
group II-B III-B are non-typical transition elements.
II-B and III-B IV-B, V-B, VI-B, VII-B, VIII-B and I-B
Four main transition series 3d, 4d, 5d and 6d sub levels in 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th period.
First transition series 3d series 4th period. (10 elements) Sc (Atomic no. 21), Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe,
Co, Ni, Cu, And Zn atomic: no: 30
Second transition series 4d series 5th period (10 elements)
Y(atomic no. 39), Zr, Nb, Mo, Tc, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Cd, (atomic number 48)
Third transition series 5d series 6th period 10 elements.
La (atomic no. 57) Hf (Atomic no. =72) Ta, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Au and Hg (atomic no. 80).
Fourth transition series 6s series 7 period
First inner transition series. From Cerium (Ce = 58) to Lutetium (Lu = 71) which are called
Lanthanide -4f-sereis.
Second Inner transition series. From thorium (Th = 90) to Lawrencium (Lr = 103) which are
called actinides- 5f-series
Except for mercury which is a liquid, all transition elements have typical metallic structure and
show. Typical metallic properties such as conductivity, malleability and ductility, luster, high
tensile strength etc.
Their atomic radii are in-between those of s– and p-block elements. In a series, they decrease
with increase in atomic number but the decrease in small after midway.
They have high melting and boiling points, high enthalpies of vaporization, high enthalpies of
atomization and high enthalpies of hydration of their ions. These properties depend upon the
strength of the metallic bond in them.
Their first ionization energies are higher than those of s-block elements and less than those of p-
block elements.
They are electropositive in nature.
They show variable oxidation states.
The stability of any oxidation state or the tendency for an transition metal ion to act as oxidizing or
reducing agent depends upon its electrode potential.
A number of these transition metals and their compounds show catalytic properties.
Most of the transition elements from coloured compounds.
Their compounds are generally paramagnetic in nature.
They have a great tendency to form complexes.
They from interstitial compounds with elements like H, C, B and N.
They form alloys.
The formation of compounds whose colour is due to d-d electron transition.
d-block element:
Transition element may be defined as an element whose atom in the ground state or ion in common
oxidation state has incomplete sub-shell, has electron 1 to 9. It is called transition element due to fact
that it is lying between most electropositive (s-block) and most electronegative (p-block) elements and
represent a transition from them. The general electronic configuration of these elements is.
(n–1)d1 to10 ns 0 to 2
The definition of transition metal excludes Zn, Cd and Hg because they have complete d- orbital.
Their common oxidation state is Zn++, Cd++, Hg++. They also do not show the characteristics of
transition element. Element of group-3 (Sc, Y, La and Ac) and group 12 ( Zn, Cd, Hg) are called non
typical transition element.
PAGE # (2) COMPOSED BY: M. HANIF MAHAR
Chemistry-PET-2022 Chapter – 14 (d-block element)
Table: First transition or 3d series:
Element Symbol At. No. Electronic configuration
Scandium Sc 21 [Ar] 3d1 4s2
Titanium Ti 22 [Ar] 3d2 4s2
Vanadium V 23 [Ar] 3d3 4s2
Chromium Cr* 24 [Ar] 3d5 4s1
Manganese Mn 25 [Ar] 3d5 4s2
Iron Fe 26 [Ar] 3d6 4s2
Cobalt Co 27 [Ar] 3d7 4s2
Nickel Ni 28 [Ar] 3d8 4s2
Copper Cu* 29 [Ar] 3d10 4s1
Zinc Zn 30 [Ar] 3d10 4s2
Table : Second transition or 4d-series:
Element Symbol At. No. Electronic configuration
Yttrium Y 39 [Kr] 4d1 5s2
Zirconium Zr 40 [Kr] 4d2 5s2
Niobium Nb* 41 [Kr] 4d4 5s1
Molybdenum Mo* 42 [Kr] 4d5 5s1
Technetium Tc 43 [Kr] 4d5 5s2
Ruthenium Ru* 44 [Kr] 4d7 5s1
Rhodium Rh* 45 [Kr] 4d8 5s1
Palladium Pd* 46 [Kr] 4d10 5s0
Silver Ag* 47 [Kr] 4d10 5s1
Cadmium Cd 48 [Kr] 4d10 5s2
Table: Third transition or 5d-series
Element Symbol At. No. Electronic configuration
Lanthanum La 57 [Xe] 5d1 6s2
Hafnium Hf 72 [Xe] 4f14 5d2 6s2
Tantalum Ta 73 [Xe] 4f14 5d3 6s2
Tungsten W 74 [Xe] 4f14 5d4 6s2
Rhenium Re 75 [Xe] 4f14 5d5 6s2
Osmium Os 76 [Xe] 4f14 5d6 6s2
Iridium Ir 77 [Xe] 4f14 5d7 6s2
Platinum Pt* 78 [Xe] 4f14 5d9 6s1
Gold Au* 79 [Xe]4f14 5d106s1
Mercury Hg 80 [Xe] 4f145d106s2
These electronic configuration have the following characteristic.
An inner core of electrons with Nobel gas configuration.
(n–1)d orbitals are filled up progressively with electrons.
Most of the member have 2 electron in ns-orbital. Cr, Cu, Nb, Mo, Ag, Au, have one
electron in ns orbital Pd has no electron in the ns orbital.
In Lanthanum (z=57), one electron go to 5d orbital before filling of 4f orbital (an exception
from Aufbau Principle)
Transition elements are these elements which have partly filled (n–1)d sub shell in their
elementary state
PAGE # (3) COMPOSED BY: M. HANIF MAHAR
Chemistry-PET-2022 Chapter – 14 (d-block element)
Physico-Chemical Properties of d-Block Elements
Atomic radii: The atomic, radii of 3d-series of elements are compared with those of the neighbouring
s and p-block elements.
K Ca Sc Ti V Cr Mn
Fe Co Ni Cu Zn Ga Ge
2.86
Ti2+ 3d2 2 2.84
2.9-3.4
Ni2+ 3d8 2 2.84
1.4-2.2
Cu2+ 3d9 1 1.73
Zn2+ 3d10 0 0 0
In d-obitals belonging to a particular energy level, there can be at the maximum five unpaired
electrons in d5 cases. Therefore, paramagnetism in any transition series first increases, reaches a
maximum value for d5 cases and then decreases thereafter.
hard and high metals are high melting as compared to the host metal. Various steels are alloys of iron
Explanation: The atomic radii of the transition elements in any series are not much different from
each other. As a result, they can very easily replace each other in the lattice and form solid solutions
over an appreciable composition range. Such solid solutions are called alloys.
Ni = 60%
Fe = 25%
Au = 70 – 75%
Gold-18 carat Jewellery, statues & tooth filling.
Cu = 20 – 75%
Colured compounds:
Colour in transition series metal compound is generally due to electron transition of two principal types.
Charge transfer: Transition an electron may jump form a ligand orbital to metal orbital. This transition is
called ligand to metal charge transfer (LMCT) transition these can mostly occur when the metal is in high
oxidation state. For example the colour of chromate (K2CrO4), dichromate (K2Cr2O7)and permagnate
(KMnO4) ion due to LMCT transition.
A metal to ligand charge transfer (MLCT) transition will be most likely when metal is low oxidation state. In
general charge transfer transition result in more intense colour than d-d-d transition.
d – d transition: An electron jumps from one d orbital to another d-orbital In complexes
PAGE # (8) COMPOSED BY: M. HANIF MAHAR
Chemistry-PET-2022 Chapter – 14 (d-block element)
Formation of coloured ions: Most of the compound of the transition elements are coloured in the solid
state and /or in the solution phase. The compounds of transition metals are coloured de to the presence
of unpaired electrons in their d-orbitals. Explanation: In an isolated atom or ion of a transition elements, all
the five d-orbitals are of the same energy (they are said to be regenerate). Under the influence of the
combining anion (s), or electron- rich molecules, the five d-orbitals split into two (or sometimes more than
two) levels of different energies. The difference between the two energy levels depends upon the nature of
the combining ions, but corresponds to the energy associated with the radiations in the visible region,
(λ=380 - 760nm).Typical splitting for octahedral geometries are shown in fig.
The splitting of d-orbital energy levels in an octahedral geometry. This spllitting is termed as the crystal field
splitting.
Promotion of d-electron to a higher level by:
The transition metals in elements form or in the ionic form have one or more unpaired electrons. When
visible light falls on the sample, the electrons from the lower energy level get promoted to a higher energy
level due to the absorption of light of a characteristic wavelength (or colour). This wavelength (or colour)
of the absorbed light depends upon the energy difference of the two levels. Rest of the light gets
transmitted. The transmitted light has a colour complementary to the absorbed colour. Therefore, the
𝟐+
compound or the solution appears to be of the complementary colour. For example, 𝐂𝐮 𝐇𝟐 𝐎 𝟔 ions
absorb red radiation, and appear blue-green (blue-green is complementary colour to red). Hydrated Co2+
ions absorb radiation in the blue-green region, and therefore, appear red in sunlight. Relationship between
the colour of the absorbed radiation and that of the transmitted light is given in table
Relationship between the colours of the absorbed and transmitted light: the complementary colours.
Colour of the Colour of the
Absorbed light Transmitted light Absorbed light Transmitted light
IR White Blue-green Red
Red Blue-green Blue Orange
Orange Blue Indigo Yellow
Yellow Indigo Violet Yellow-green
Yellow-green Violet UV White
Green Purple
PAGE # (9) COMPOSED BY: M. HANIF MAHAR
Chemistry-PET-2022 Chapter – 14 (d-block element)
However, if radiations of all the wavelengths (or colours) except one are absorbed, then the colour of the
substance will be the colour of the transmitted radiation. For example, if a substance absorbs all colours except
green, then it would appear green to the eyes. The transition metal ions which have completely filled d-orbitals
are colourless, as there are no vacant d-orbitals to permit promotion of the electrons. Therefore, Zn2+(3d10),
Cd2+ (4d10) and Hg2+(5d10) Sc3+, Ti4+, Cu+ ions and Zn, Cd, Hg are colourless and diamagnetic. The transition
metal ions which have completely empty d-orbitals are also colourless, Thus, Sc3+ and Ti4+. Ions are
colourless, unless a coloured anion is present in the compound. Colours and the outer- electronic
configurations of the some important ions of the first transition series elements are given bellow,