A - Transition Metals Flashcards
Where are transition metals found on the periodic table?
D block
Give the definition of a transition metal.
A metal that can form one or more stable ions with a partially filled d sub-level.
Where do the transition metal characteristics of elements Ti-Cu arise from?
An incomplete d sub-level in atoms or ions.
What are the characteristic properties of the transition metals that I need to know about?
- Complex formation
- Formation of coloured ions
- Variable oxidation state
- Catalytic activity
What is a ligand?
A molecule or ion that forms a co-ordinate bond with a transition metal by donating a pair of electrons.
What is a complex?
A central metal atom or ion surrounded by ligands.
What is co-ordination number?
The number of co-ordinate bonds to the central metal atom or ion.
Give the 4s and 3d electron configurations of Cr and Cu.
Why do these differ from those of the other transition metals’ electron configurations and why?
Cr - 4s1 3d5
Cu - 4s1 3d10
The 4s sub-level isn’t full before the 3d sub-level is filled as the atoms are more stable this way.
Why are scandium and zinc not transition metals?
Sc - only forms one ion, Sc3+, which has an EMPTY d sub-level.
Zn - only forms one ion, Zn2+, which has a FULL d sub-level.
Do transition metals form positive or negative ions?
Positive ions.
Name some of the physical properties of transition metals.
- Good conductora of heat and electricity
- Hard
- Shiny
- Strong
- High melting and boiling points
- High density
What electrons are lost first from all transition metals when ions are formed?
4s electrons
What is another name for a co-ordinate bond?
Dative covalent bond
What is a co-ordinate bond?
A covalent bond in which both electrons in the shared pair come from the same atom.
What is the resulting species called when ligands bond to a single transition metal?
Complex ion.
What shapes do the following complex ions form?
- Complex ion with co-ordination number 6
- Complex ion with co-ordination number 4
- Complex ion with co-ordination number 2
- Octahedral
- Tetrahedral or square planar
- Linear
What are the bond angles in an octahedral complex ion with co-ordination number 6?
All bond angles are 90 degrees
What are the bond angles in a tetrahedral complex ion with co-ordination number 4?
Bond angles are 109.5 degrees.
What are the bond angles in a square planar complex ion with co-ordination number 4?
Give an example of one of these complex ions.
Bond angles are 90 degrees.
Cisplatin (anti-cancer drug)
What are the bond angles in a linear complex ion with co-ordination number 2?
Bond angles are 180 degrees.
Describe the different arrows used to draw 3D complex ions.
Wedge shaped arrows represent bonds coming toward you.
Dashed arrows represent bonds sticking out behind the molecule.
What is the total oxidation state of a complex ion?
The overall charge of the ion (found outside the square bracket).
How do you calculate the oxidation state of the metal ion?
Total oxidation state - the sum of the oxidation states of the ligands
What are monodentate ligands?
Give some examples.
Ligands that can only form one co-ordinate bond.
H2O, NH3, Cl-
What is similar about the ligands NH3 and H2O?
They are similar in size and both are uncharged.
What remains the same when the ligands NH3 and H2O are exchanged?
Co-ordination number.
What is a multidentate ligand? Give an example.
A ligand that can form more than one co-ordinate bond.
Eg - EDTA4- which has six lone pairs of electrons.
What are bidentate ligands? Give two examples.
Multidentate ligands which can form two co-ordinate bonds.
Eg - ethane-1,2-diamine and ethanedioate.
One ligand can be swapped for another. What is this process called?
What does this process usually result in?
Ligand substitution or exchange.
Colour change.
What happens when ligands of similar size and the same charge exchange?
There will usually be a colour change but co-ordination number and shape of the complex ion remains the same.
What happens when ligands of different sizes are exchanged?
There’s a change of co-ordination number and shape of the complex ion.
How does Cl- differ in size from NH3 and H2O?
Cl- is larger, H2O and NH3 are similar in size.
Ligand substitution reactions can be easily reversed unless what?
Unless the new complex ion is much more stable than the old one.
Do multidentate or monodentate ligands form more stable complexes?
Multidentate ligands
What is haemoglobin?
A protein that is found in the blood and helps to transport oxygen around the body.
Describe the structure of haemoglobin as a complex ion.
Fe2+ ions are hexa-coordinated (6 lone pairs are donated to Fe2+ to form 6 co-ordinate bonds in an octahedral structure).
Four of the co-ordinate bonds come from one multidentate ligand (4 N atoms co-ordinate around Fe2+ forming a circle) - this part of the molecule is called haem.
One of the other co-ordinate bonds comes from a protein called globin, and the other from either water or oxygen (this is interchangeable which allows the molecule to transport oxygen to where it is needed).