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Where are the transition metals?
The transition metals are the block of elements located between group 2 and group 3 of the periodic table. group 2 group 3
Sc Ti V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni Cu Zn Y Zr Nb Mo Tc Ru Rh Pd Ag Cd La Hf Ta W Re Os Ir Pt Au Hg Ac Rf Db Sg Bh Hs Mt Ds Rg ?
Here, the word transition is used to mean in-between.
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What are the transition metals?
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Why are they called the typical metals? There are over 30 transition metals. They include most of the metals we are familiar with and use everyday, such as iron, copper and gold. However, there are many transition metals that are less familiar to us, because they are very rare or have few uses. The transition metals are known as typical metals. Why do you think this might be?
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What are the properties of the transition metals? The transition metals are known as typical metals because of their physical properties. They are: lustrous (bright and shiny). hard and strong. high density. malleable (can be bent and pressed into different shapes) and ductile (can be drawn into wires). good conductors of heat and electricity. high melting and boiling points (except mercury, which is liquid at room temperature).
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Transition metals and alkali metals
How do the transition metals compare with the alkali metals?
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Comparing properties of different metals
How do the properties of transition metals compare with those of alkali metals?
Compared to the alkali metals, the transition metals:
are harder and stronger. They cannot be cut with a knife. are more dense. This means that in a fixed volume of metal there are more atoms of a transition metal than there are of an alkali metal. have higher melting and boiling points except mercury.
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Comparing densities of metals
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Comparing melting points of metals
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How reactive are the transition metals?
The transition metals are much less reactive than the alkali metals.
They tend to react relatively slowly, for example with air, water and acid.
Copper does not react with water whereas the alkali metals, such as sodium, react vigorously.
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Copper does not burn in air whereas the alkali metals, such as sodium, burn vigorously.
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How reactive are the transition metals?
The general trend is for a decrease in reactivity from left to right across the periodic table. There are exceptions, such as zinc which is more reactive than expected. Sc Ti V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni Cu Zn Zinc is more reactive than expected.
decrease in reactivity
Another exception is iron, which does react quite readily with air and water causing rust. What is the chemical name of rust?
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What happens to iron when it rusts?
Rusting is an oxidation reaction between iron, oxygen and water, which leads to the formation of hydrated iron (III) oxide - the chemical name for rust. Rusting is a type of corrosion. What are the word and chemical equations for the formation of rust? iron 4Fe (s)
+ +
oxygen 3O2 (g)
+ +
water
hydrated iron (III) oxide (rust) 2Fe2O3.H2O
2H2O (g)
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Transition metal ions
When transition metals do react, they lose electrons, and so form positive ions. Some transition metals only make one type of ion, for example: silver only forms Ag+ ions zinc only forms Zn2+ ions. However, most transition metals can form more than one type of ion, as they can lose different numbers of electrons, for example: iron can form both Fe2+ and Fe3+ ions.
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Transition metal compounds
As most transition metals can form different ions, this means they can form multiple compounds. For example:
Copper can form Cu+, which can make the red compound copper (I) oxide Cu2O.
Copper can also form Cu2+, which can make the black compound copper (II) oxide CuO.
The number in brackets indicates how many electrons have been lost.
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Transition metal compounds and colour
Most transition metals form coloured compounds. For example:
Iron (II) oxide (FeO2) is black.
Iron (III) oxide (Fe2O3) is red/brown when hydrated this is rust. Copper (II) sulfate crystals (CuSO4.H2O) is blue these can be turned white by heating the crystals to remove the water.
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Uses of coloured tm compounds
The colour of many gemstones comes from the presence of transition metal compounds. For example, the gemstone jade contains iron. The coloured compounds of transition metals can also be used in many ways, for example: to colour stained glass windows to colour paints as coloured glazes on pottery.
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How are transition metal ions identified?
The presence of transition metal ions in a solution can be tested by adding sodium hydroxide solution. If transition metal ions are present, a metal hydroxide is formed. This is insoluble and so appears as a solid called a precipitate. Different metal ions produce different coloured precipitates: Fe2+ ions produce a grey/green precipitate of Fe(OH)2 .
Fe3+ ions produce an orange/ brown precipitate of Fe(OH)3 .
Cu2+ ions produce a blue precipitate of Cu(OH)2 .
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What is thermal decomposition?
Compounds of transition metals can be broken down into simpler substances by heating them.
This is called thermal decomposition.
For example, carbonates of transition metals are broken down into metal oxides and carbon dioxide when heated.
metal carbonate
metal oxide heat
+ carbon dioxide
The reactants and products are different colours. How can the presence of carbon dioxide be tested? The gas produced can be bubbled through limewater. If the gas is CO2, it will turn the limewater cloudy.
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Thermal decomposition equations
The thermal decomposition reaction of iron (II) carbonate is: iron (II) carbonate FeCO3 (s) heat iron oxide FeO (s)
+ +
carbon dioxide CO2 (g)
What is the reaction when copper (II) carbonate undergoes thermal decomposition? copper (II) carbonate CuCO3 (s) heat
copper oxide
CuO (s)
+ +
carbon dioxide
CO2 (g)
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Spot the uses of the transition metals
How many everyday uses of transition metals can you see?
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What are the uses of the transition metals?
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Glossary (1/2) alloy A mixture of a metal and at least one other element. catalyst A substance that increases the speed of a
chemical reaction without being used up.
corrosion Damage to a metal caused by a chemical or
reaction such as rusting.
density A measure of mass in a given volume. Often
expressed in g/dm3.
ductile The ability of metals to be drawn into wires.
lustrous Bright and shiny.
malleable Capable of being bent and pressed into a
different shape.
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Glossary (2/2) precipitate A solid that forms in a solution as a result
of a physical or chemical reaction.
thermal decomposition The process by which a
substance is broken down into two or more products by heating it.
transition metal An element located in the block
between groups 2 and 3 of the periodic table.
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Anagrams
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Properties of transition metals
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Multiple-choice quiz
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