Study Guides/Chemistry/Transition Elements
Study Guide · Chemistry

What are Transition Elements? Properties and Examples

Transition Elements are elements whose atoms, or ions, have an incompletely filled d-subshell. They occupy the d-block of the Periodic Table, spanning Groups 3 to 12.

Question (Click to Flip)

What are transition elements?

Answer

Transition elements are elements with incompletely filled d-subshells in their atoms or common ions, located in the d-block (Groups 3–12) of the periodic table.

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Key Facts

d-block: Groups 3–12.

Variable Oxidation State: Key characteristic.

Exception: Zinc (Zn) — d¹⁰ configuration — some argue it is NOT a true transition element.

Catalyst Examples: Fe (Haber process), V₂O₅ (Contact process).

Position in Periodic Table

They are located between the s-block (alkali and alkaline earth metals) and the p-block (non-metals). There are four series of transition elements (3d, 4d, 5d, 6d).

Key Properties

  1. Variable Oxidation States: Most show multiple oxidation states (e.g., Iron shows +2 and +3; Manganese shows +2, +4, +7).
  2. Coloured Compounds: Most transition metal compounds are coloured (e.g., CuSO₄ is blue, K₂Cr₂O₇ is orange).
  3. Catalytic Activity: Many are used as catalysts (Fe in Haber Process, V₂O₅ in Contact Process).
  4. Magnetic Properties: Many are paramagnetic due to unpaired d-electrons.
  5. High melting and boiling points.

Examples

Iron (Fe), Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), Nickel (Ni), Chromium (Cr), Manganese (Mn), Cobalt (Co), Silver (Ag), Gold (Au).

Questions and Answers

What are transition elements?+

Transition elements are elements with incompletely filled d-subshells in their atoms or common ions, located in the d-block (Groups 3–12) of the periodic table.

Why do transition elements show variable oxidation states?+

Because the energy difference between ns and (n-1)d subshells is small, electrons from both can be lost during bonding, giving multiple oxidation states.

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