15.1.1 - Transition metal electronic configurations

Question 1

What is a transition metal?

Answer 1

d-block elements that form one or more stable ions with incompletely filled d orbitals.

Question 2

What are characteristics of transition metals?

Answer 2

Hard solids.
High melting and boiling points.
Can act as catalysts.
Formed coloured ions and compounds.

Question 3

Why are scandium and zinc not classed as transition metals?

Answer 3

Scandium loses both of its 4s electrons and its only one 3d electron.
Zinc loses both 4s electrons and no 3d electrons.
They form one ion each, 2+ and 3+
They have no incompletely filled d-orbitals so not transition metals.

Question 4

What happens to the oxidation state of transition metals as you move across a period from Cu to Fe?

Answer 4

High oxidation states become less common.
Nuclear charge increases so electrons are attracted more strongly so electrons are lost less easily.