topic 13 - transition metals Flashcards
define a transition metal
one which forms one or more stable ions which have incompletely filled d orbitals
define a transition metal
one which forms one or more stable ions which have incompletely filled d orbitals
what does this definition mean for zinc?
distinguishes zinc from d-block elements zinc Zn only forms the ion Zn2+, which has a configuration [Ar]3d10
when d sub shell is empty, 4s is at ——— than 3d
lower energy
when d sub shell is occupied, 4s is at ———- than 3d
higher energy
so in the case of ionisation, where are electrons removed from first - 4s or 3d?
4s
in the case of electron sub-shell filling, where are electrons added first - 4s or 3d?
4s
describe copper
[Ar]3d104s1
- can lose 4s electrons to form Cu(I)
- compounds or lose one 4s and one 3d electron to become Cu(II) compounds
describe scandium
[Ar]3d14s2
- normally forms Sc(III) ions
- therefore, it will have no electrons in the D orbital [Ar]3d04s0
- hence, scandium does not show typical properties of transition metals
state the 6 common properties of period 4
- generally hard metals
- exhibit magnetism
- have variable oxidation states
- show catalytic activity
- form complex ions
- ions are coloured
explain the hardness and high melting points of transition metals
- result from the strong metallic bonds in the elements
- due to their ability to release electrons from both outer and inner shells for bonding (eg metals in the first series use both 3d and 4s electrons for bonding)
describe the two forms of magnetism concerned with transition metals
paramagnetism - caused by unpaired electrons and are attracted by a magnetic field
diamagnetism - caused by paired electrons and repelled slightly by a magnetic field
why will all substances exhibit some diamagnetism?
as they have some paired electrons
why does paramagnetism dominate over diamagnetism?
the effect of the diamagnetism is much smaller than the paramagnetic effect and so in substances with an unpaired electron, paramagnetism dominates
the more unpaired electrons,
the greater the paramagnetism (magnetic moment)
Fe2+
[Ar]3d6
paramagnetism
Cr3+
[Ar]3d3
paramagnetism
Cu+
[Ar]3d10
diamagnetism
when a metal forms an ionic compound, what does the formula of the compound produced depend on?
the energetics of the process:
- the compound formed is the one in which most energy is released
- the more energy released, the more stable the compound
what are the two energy terms that must be considered in terms of which oxidation state will be favoured?
- the amount of energy needed to ionise the metal (the sum of the various ionisation energies)
- the amount of energy released when the compound forms (lattice enthalpy for solids, or hydration enthalpies of the ions for solutions)
give an example of a typical non-transition metal and its non-variable oxidation states
calcium chloride
- making Ca2+ ions instead of Ca+ requires greater ionisation energy, but more energy is released as lattice energy (as there is a greater attraction between chloride ions and Ca2+ ions than Ca+ ions)
- third electron comes from 3p shell which is much more difficult to remove; so although there will be a gain in lattice enthalpy, it isn’t anything to compensate for the extra ionisation energy
give an example of a typical transition metal and its variable oxidation states
iron
- the 4s orbital and 3d orbitals have very similar energy
- extra ionisation energy of increasing oxidation states is compensated by the extra lattice enthalpy/hydration enthalpy evolved
(VO2)+
- yellow
- 5+
- oxovanadium (V)
(VO)2+
- blue
- 4+
- oxovanadium (IV)