5. Transition Metals Flashcards
What is a transition metal?
A metal in the central block of the periodic table that has an incomplete d sub-shell in at least one of its stable ions
Why do transition elements form 2+ ions, and why do they have similar properties?
When ions are formed it is the 4s electrons that are lost first
Why is Cu a transition metal?
For Cu 2+ [[Ar] 3d9] it has an incomplete d sub-shell
Physical properties of transition metals?
- conduct heat and electricity
- malleable and ductile
- hard and strong
- dense
- high melting point
Chemical properties of transition metals?
- can form complexes
- form coloured compounds
- have variable oxidation states
- can act as catalysts
What is a ligand?
A molecule, atom or ion that has one or more lone pairs that it can donate to a central metal ion
What are bidentate ligands?
Ligands that can donate 2 lone pairs of electrons
What are monodentate ligands?
Ligands that can donate 1 lone pair of electrons
Examples of monodentate ligands?
H2O, NH2, CN- and Cl-
Examples of bidentate ligands?
- NH2CH2CH2NH2
* C₂O₄²⁻
What are multidentate ligands?
Ligands that can donate more than two pairs of lone electrons
Example of a multidentate ligand?
EDTA⁴⁻
What is a complex?
A cenral metal ion surrounded by ligands
What do ligands do in order for a complex to be formed?
Donate at least one pair of electrons to form a co-ordinate bond with the central ion
What happens to transition metals in an aqueous solution?
They are always hydrated i.e. they form co-ordinate bonds with water molecules - water molecules can act as ligands
What is formed when a transition metal is in an aqueous solution?
A hexaaqua ion
What are hydrated complex ions also called?
Hexaaqua ions
What is the coordination number?
The number of coordinate bonds formed by ligands around the central metal ion
What must the coordination number not be confused with?
The number of ligands bonded
What does the coordination number determine?
The shape of the complex
What shape is formed if a complex has two coordinate bonds?
Linear
What shape is formed if a complex has four coordinate bonds?
Tetrahedral or square planar
What shape is formed if a complex has six coordinate bonds?
Octahedral
What shape do complexes with Cl- ligands make?
Tetrahedral
What is the coordination number of octahedral complexes?
6
What are octahedral complexes commonly formed from?
Small ligands e.g. H2O and NH3
What type of isomerism can octahedral complexes display? And with what?
Cis-trans isomerism with monodentate ligands
Where are the ligands on a cis complex?
On the same side
Where are the ligands on a trans complex?
On opposite sides
When can octahedral complexes display optical isomerism?
When there are two or more bidentate ligands in the complex
When does optical isomerism occur?
When the two isomers (enantiomers) exist as two non-superimposable mirror images
What does a ligand substitution involve?
Breaking the coordinate bond between the transition metal and the ligand
How can the overall effect of ligand substitution on a molecule be determined?
The type of ligand needs to be determined
What types of ligand are there?
- monodentate
- bidentate
- multidentate
What is a monodenate ligand?
A ligand with one atom capable of donating a lone pair of electrons forming one coordinate bond
Examples of monodenate ligands?
H20, NH3 and CL=l-
What shape complex do H2O and NH3 form? Why is this?
Octahedral as they are small ligands that can form 6 bonds with the central metal ion
What shape complexes do Cl- form? Why is this?
Tetrahedral - repulsion between 6 Cl- is too great and only 4 bonds are formed with the central metal ion
What happens if a neutral ligand is replaced with a neutral ligand?
No change in shape, charge, or coordination number
What happens if a neutral ligand is replaced with Cl-?
Change in charge, coordination number and shape - octahedral to tetrahedral
What happens if a neutral ligand is replaced with CN-, EDTA4- or C2O4 2-?
Change in charge, no change in coordination number or shape
What should be noted about the formation of [Cu(NH3)4(H2O)2]2+ from (Cu(H2O)6)2+?
It is incomplete substitution, however all six H2O molecules could be replaced if the concentration of the ammonia solution is increased by carrying out the reaction in an ice cold saturated solution or in liquid ammonia
What can a change of the H2O ligand by Cl- involve?
A change in coordination number and charge on the complex
What is a bidentate ligand?
Ligands that have 2 atoms capable of donating an electron pair forming two coordinate bonds
Examples of bidentate ligands?
- 1,2-diaminoethane (NH2CH2CH2NH2)
* ethanedivoate ions (C2O4 2-)
What is a multidentate ligand?
A ligand with a number of atoms capable of donating an electron pair producing several coordinate bonds
Examples of multidentate ligands?
- EDTA 4-
* porphyrin (haem)
Example of what complex porphyrin is involved in?
Haemoglobin - with an Fe centre
What is haemoglobin?
An Fe2+ centre with porphyrin forming 6 coordinate bonds
What is the shape of haemoglobin?
Octahedral
How is oxygen transported in the blood?
Oxygen binds to haemaglobin
How many O2 molecules are attached to a fully saturated oxyhaemoglobin?
4
Why is carbon monoxide toxic?
It binds very strongly to haemoglobin; it replaces oxygen co-ordinately bonded to Fe(II)
What is the chelate effect?
When bi and multidentate ligands replace monodentate ligands from complexes
What type of ligands are known as chelating ligands?
Bi and multi
Why can multi dentate ligands be used to remove d-block metal ions from solution via a substitution reaction?
Due to the stability of the complex they form
Through what reaction do multi dentate ligands remove d-block metal ions from solution?
Substitution
What happens when mono dentate ligands are replaced with bidentate?
Makes complex more stable (chelate effect)
How can a complex be made more stable?
If a single ligand makes more bonds with the metal ion the more stable the complex will be
Why is the substitution of bi and multi dentate ligands difficult to reverse?
The product of both reactions are more stable than the reactant complex
How can the stability of complexes with chelating ligands be explained?
In terms of the increase in entropy of the system
What is the overall feasibility of the reaction involving chelating ligands determined using?
ΔG = ΔH - TΔS
In ΔG = ΔH - TΔS, what does G stand for?
Gibbs free energy
In ΔG = ΔH - TΔS, what does T stand for?
Temperature
In ΔG = ΔH - TΔS, what does S stand for?
Entropy
In ΔG = ΔH - TΔS, what does H stand for?
Enthalpy
In ΔG = ΔH - TΔS, what value must G take for the reaction to be feasible?
Negative
What is entropy?
Measure of disorder
In ΔG = ΔH - TΔS, what will the value of ΔH be?
Close to 0 as there is a similar type and number of bonds broken and formed
During ligand substitution, what does the entropy value depend on?
The number of particles moving freely in solution
Why is feasibility of ligand substitution largely due to change in entropy?
The number of bonds broken and formed are the same and therefore enthalpy change is usually very small, so feasibility is largely down to change in entropy
What does an increase in number of particles mean for entropy?
Increase in disorder, therefore entropy
What does an increase in number of particles mean for TΔS?
Makes it more negative therefore ΔG more -ve → therefore the feasible direction of the reaction and the product is more stable than the reactant complex
Can octahedral complexes display optical isomerism?
Yes, when there are two or more bidentate ligands in the complex
When can octahedral complexes display optical isomerism?
When there are two or more bidentate ligands in the complex
What is the coordination number of tetrahedral complexes?
4
What does it mean that a tetrahedral complex has a coordination number of 4?
The central metal ion forms 4 bonds
What are tetrahedral complexes commonly formed from?
Larger ligands e.g. Cl
What complexes adopt a square planar shape?
Some complexes with a coordination number of 4
What can square planar complexes display?
Cis-trans isomerism
Is cisplatin the cis or trans isomer?
Cis
What is a cis isomer?
When the same groups are on the same side of the central metal ion
What is a trans isomer?
When the same groups are on opposite sides of the central metal ion
What is the coordination of linear complexes?
2
What does it mean that the coordination number of linear complexes is 2?
The central metal ion forms 2 bonds
What are linear complexes commonly formed from?
The metal ion Ag+
What shape complex is Tollen’s reagent?
Linear
What is the name for [Ag(NH3)2]?
Tollen’s reagent
Is silver a transition metal?
No
What does the colour of a complex depend on?
- oxidation state of metal centre
- coordination number
- ligand
- the metal itself
Why are transition metals coloured?
- colour happens when some wavelengths of visible light absorbed
- this is due to the transfer of an electron between the orbitals in an unfilled d sub level
- transition metal atoms/ions have incomplete d sub level; all 5 orbitals in d sub level have same energy
- however in a complex ion the d orbitals move to 2 different energy levels due to the difference in overlapping with the ligands
- electrons excited by absorbed certain frequencies
- the light not absorbed is reflected and the complex appears this colour
When does colour arise?
When some wavelengths of visible light are absorbed and the remaining wavelengths of light are transmitted or reflected
What energy do the 5 orbitals in the d sub level have? Are there any exceptions to this?
They have same energy, however in a complex ion the d orbitals move to 2 different energy levels due to the difference in overlapping with the ligands