3.2.5.1 General Properties of Transition Metals

Question 1

What is the general electronic configuration of transition metals?

Answer 1

They form at least one stable ion with a partly full d-shell of electrons

Question 2

Which metals are transition metals?

Answer 2

Columns titanium to copper

Question 3

What ion does zinc form?

Answer 3

Zn 2+

Question 4

What ion does scandium form?

Answer 4

Sc 3+

Question 5

Why are zinc and scandium not classed as transition metals?

Answer 5

Because they can only form one ion

Question 6

Is it more stable to half fill a p subshell or to fill and add to a d subshell?

Answer 6

Half fill a p subshell

Question 7

Of 4s and 3d, which subshell is filled first?

Answer 7

4s is emptied and filled before 3d

Question 8

What are the general properties of transition metals?

Answer 8

Have variable oxidation states
Good conductors of heat and electricity
High melting and boiling points
Low reactivity
Forms coloured ions
Many are catalysts
Form complex ions

Question 9

What is a complex?

Answer 9

A central metal atom or ion surrounded by ligands

Question 10

What is a ligand?

Answer 10

An ion or molecule which forms dative covalent bonds with the transition metal atom or ion donating a pair of electrons
Has at least one lone pair
This lone pair is donated to an empty orbital in the transition metal

Question 11

What are the charges of the NH3 and H2O ligands?

Answer 11

No charge

This means that the exchange of these ligands does not change the co-ordination number

Question 12

Is substitution always complete?

Answer 12

No