Topic 15 - Transition Metals Flashcards
Where in the periodic table can you find transition metals?
In the d-block (middle, bottom block).
Are all d-block elements transition metals?
No, but most are.
Which transition metals do you need to know about mostly?
The ones in the first row (titanium to copper).
Define transition metals.
d-block elements that can form one or more stable ions with incompletely filled d-orbitals.
Which elements in the first row of the d-block are not transition metals?
Scandium and zinc
Why are scandium and zinc not transition metals?
- Transition metals are those that form one or more stable ions with INCOMPLETELY FILLED d-orbitals.
- Scandium -> Forms only Sc³⁺, which has no d electrons
- Zinc -> Forms only Zn²⁺, which has a full d subshell
Why does zinc keep a full d subshell when it forms its ion?
It loses the 2 electrons from the 4s subshell, so its d subshell remains full.
How many orbitals does the d subshell have?
5 orbitals (so it can hold 10 electrons)
Write down the electronic configuration of titanium.
1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d² 4s²
Which transition metals have unusual electronic configurations?
Chromium and copper
Write down the electronic configuration of chromium.
1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d⁵ 4s¹
Write down the electronic configuration of copper.
1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s¹
What must you remember about the 3d and 4s subshells?
The 4s fills up before the 3d.
Explain the unusual electronic configuration of chromium.
- 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d⁵ 4s¹
- The second electron from the 4s subshell is donated to the 3d subshell to make it half-full
- This gives extra stability
Explain the unusual electronic configuration of copper.
- 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s¹
- The second electron from the 4s subshell is donated to the 3d subshell to make it full
- This gives extra stability
Write down the electronic configuration of Cu²⁺.
1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d⁹
When transition metals form positive ions, which electrons are removed first?
s electrons (them d electrons)
Titanium is 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d² 4s². Give the electronic configuration of Ti²⁺.
1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d²
Titanium is 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d² 4s². Give the electronic configuration of Ti³⁺.
1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹
What must you remember about the 3d and 4s subshells in transition metals?
1) The 4s subshell fills up before the 3d subshell.
2) When forming ions, electrons are lost first from the 4s subshell, then the 3d subshell.
Remember to practise writing out the electronic configuration (and electron diagrams) for all of the transition metals.
See diagram pg 168 of revision guide
Can transition metals form only one stable ion?
No, most can form many.
How can you express the idea that transition metals can form multiple stable ions?
Transition metals have variable oxidation numbers.
What condition must be met in order to form a compound or complex containing an ion with a certain oxidation number?
The energy given out when the ion forms the compound or complex needs to be greater than the energy taken to remove the outer electrons and form the ion (ionisation energy).
Why can transition metals form multiple ions?
- Ions are formed by losing both 4s and 3d electrons
- These two subshells are at similar energy levels, so it takes similar amounts of energy to remove electrons from each one
- There is also little increase in the ionisation energies of successive electrons in each subshell
- The energy released when ions form a complex or compound increases with ionic charge, so the increase in ionisation energy required to remove electrons and form transition metal ions with high oxidation numbers is counteracted by the increase in energy released.
- This means ions can be formed with different oxidation numbers (since it is energetically viable).
The ionisation energy required to form ions of transition metals with high oxidation numbers is high. Why is the formation of these ions energetically viable?
- The energy released when ions form a complex or compound increases with ionic charge
- So the increase in ionisation energy required to remove electrons and form transition metal ions with high oxidation numbers is counteracted by the increase in energy released.
Describe and explain the graph of ionisation energy against ionisation number for vanadium [Ar] 4s² 3d³.
- Starts at an ionisation number of 1, with a very low ionisation energy.
- Steady small increases between ionisation numbers 1 and 5.
- Sharp increase between ionisation numbers 5 and 6.
- The gradual increase between 1 and 5 is due to the fact that the electrons are being removed from the 4s and 3d subshells, which have similar energies.
- The sharp increase between 5 and 6 is due to the next electrons being removed from the 3p subshell, which is more inner.
Describe and explain the graph of ionisation energy against ionisation number for calcium [Ar] 4s².
- Starts at an ionisation number of 1, with a very low ionisation energy.
- Small increase between ionisation numbers 1 and 2.
- Sharp increase between ionisation numbers 2 and 3.
- Steady small increases between ionisation numbers 3 and 6.
• The sharp increase between 2 and 3 is due to the next electrons being removed from the 3p subshell, which is more inner.
Remember to practise drawing out the graph of ionisation energy against ionisation number for calcium and vanadium.
Pg 169 of revision guide.
Why don’t V⁺ ion complexes form?
V⁺ is not as stable as other possibilities.
What are complex ions of transition metals?
A metal ion surrounded by dative covalently bonded ligands.
What is another name for ligands being dative covalently bonded to the central metal?
Coordinately
What is a ligand?
An atom, ion or molecule that donates a pair of electrons to a central metal atom or ion.
What are the requirements for a ligand?
It must have at least one pair of electrons (or it can’t form dative covalent bonds).
What are the different types of ligand?
- Monodentate
- Bidentate
- Multidentate
What are monodentate ligands?
Ligands with one lone pair.
What are bidentate ligands?
Ligands with two lone pairs.
What are multidentate ligands?
Ligands with more than two lone pairs.
What is the name for a ligand that can form 6 dative covalent bonds with a metal ion?
Hexadentate
Describe the structure of haemoglobin.
Fe(II) ion surrounded by 6 ligands:
• O₂ or H₂O
• Ring of 4 N atoms
• Globin protein
What is a haem group?
Ring of 4 N atoms (that can form 4 dative covalent bonds with a central metal ion).
Remember to practise drawing out the structure of haemoglobin.
Pg 170 of revision guide
What is the equation for the oxidation number of a metal ion in a complex ion?
Oxidation number of metal ion = Total oxidation number - Sum of charges of the ligands
What is the oxidation number of the iron in [Fe(CN)₆]⁴⁻?
-4 - (6 x -1) = +2
What is the coordination number of a complex ion?
The number of dative covalent (coordinate) bonds formed with the central metal ion.
What are the usual coordination numbers?
6 and 4
When is the coordination number 4 and when is it 6?
- When the ligands are small, like H₂O, 6 can fit around the central metal ion
- When the ligands are large, like Cl⁻, only 4 can fit around the central metal ion
What is the term for 6 ligands surrounding a central metal ion?
Six-fold coordination
What shape and bond angles does six-fold coordination result in?
- Octahedral
* 90° bond angles
What shape and bond angles does four-fold coordination result in?
USUALLY: • Tetrahedral • 109.5° bond angles OCCASIONALLY: • Square planar • 90° bond angles
What shape is [Fe(H₂O)₆]²⁺?
Octahedral
What shape is [CuCl₄]²⁻?
Tetrahedral
What shape is [CoCl₄]²⁻?
Tetrahedral
What shape is cis-platin?
Square planar
What notable exception to four-fold coordination complexes do you need to know about?
- Cis-platin
* It is square planar instead of tetrahedral
What sort of complex ions can show cis/trans isomerism?
- Square planar
* Octahedral
How can you tell if an octahedral complex ion is cis or trans?
- Cis -> Have the same groups on the same side
* Trans -> Have the same groups opposite each other
Remember to practise identifying cis and trans isomers of complex ions.
Pg 171 of revision guide
Describe the structure of cis-platin.
- Central platinum(II) ion
- 2 Cl groups next to each other on one side
- 2 NH₃ groups next to each other on the other side
Remember to practise drawing out he structure of cis-platin.
Pg 171 of revision guide
What is the use of cis-platin?
Anti-cancer drug
What is the problem with using cis-plain as an anti-cancer drug?
It can not contain any trans-platin, because it is toxic.
What happens in terms of energy levels when ligands join onto a transition metal?
The 3d orbitals in the transition metal split into two different energy levels.
What gives transition metal complex ions colour?
- The ligands cause the 3d orbitals in the transition metal to split into two different energy levels.
- Most electrons tend to occupy the lower orbitals (ground state) and some can jump up to the higher orbitals (excited state) when provided with energy.
- This energy comes from visible light.
- The lather the energy gap, the higher the frequency of light that is absorbed.
- The colour of the complex is the complement of the colours absorbed.
(See diagram pg 172 of revision guide)
What is the symbol for the energy required to excite electrons from the ground state to the excited state?
ΔE
Where does the energy for the excitation of electrons in transition metal complex ions come from?
Visible light
What determines the amount of energy needed to make electrons jump from the ground state to the excited state in transition metal complex ions? What is the effect of this?
- Central metal ion
- Oxidation number of the metal ion
- Ligands
- Coordination number
These are the factors that determine the colour of the complex ion.
[Cu(H₂O)₆]²⁺ absorbs red light. What colour does it appear and why?
- Bright blue
* Because the remaining colours that are transmitted or reflected combine to give this colour.
When will a transition metal complex ion appear white or colourless?
When there are no 3d electrons or the 3d subshell is full (since there are no electrons that can jump).
What happens when a solid containing a transition metal ion is dissolved in water?
The metal ion is surrounded by water ligands (forming an aqueous complex).
Which transition metals do you need to know the colours of the aqueous complex for?
- Vanadium
- Chromium
- Iron
- Cobalt
- Copper
What is the ion in which vanadium has a +2 oxidation number and what is the colour of its aqueous complex?
- V²⁺
* Violet
What is the ion in which vanadium has a +3 oxidation number and what is the colour of its aqueous complex?
- V³⁺
* Green
What is the ion in which vanadium has a +4 oxidation number and what is the colour of its aqueous complex?
- VO²⁺
* Blue
What is the ion in which vanadium has a +5 oxidation number and what is the colour of its aqueous complex?
- VO₂⁺
* Yellow
What is the ion in which chromium has a +2 oxidation number and what is the colour of its aqueous complex?
- Cr²⁺
* Blue
What is the ion in which chromium has a +3 oxidation number and what is the colour of its aqueous complex?
- Cr³⁺
* Green
What is the ion in which chromium has a +6 oxidation number and what is the colour of its aqueous complex?
- Cr₂O₇²⁻
- Orange
OR
- CrO₄²⁻
- Yellow
What is the ion in which iron has a +2 oxidation number and what is the colour of its aqueous complex?
- Fe²⁺
* Pale green
What is the ion in which iron has a +3 oxidation number and what is the colour of its aqueous complex?
- Fe³⁺
* Yellow
What is the ion in which cobalt has a +2 oxidation number and what is the colour of its aqueous complex?
- Co²⁺
* Pink
What is the ion in which copper has a +2 oxidation number and what is the colour of its aqueous complex?
- Cu²⁺
* Pale blue
Remember to practise drawing out the complex ion colour table.
See diagram pg 172 (except titanium, manganese and nickel)
What ions does vanadium exist in and what is the colour of each aqueous complex?
- V²⁺ -> Violet
- V³⁺ -> Green
- VO²⁺ -> Blue
- VO₂⁺ -> Yellow
What ions does chromium exist in and what is the colour of each aqueous complex?
- Cr²⁺ -> Blue
- Cr³⁺ -> Green
- Cr₂O₇²⁻ -> Orange
- CrO₄²⁻ -> Yellow
What ions does iron exist in and what is the colour of each aqueous complex?
- Fe²⁺ -> Pale green
* Fe³⁺ -> Yellow
What ions does cobalt exist in and what is the colour of each aqueous complex?
• Co²⁺ -> Pink
What ions does cobalt exist in and what is the colour of each aqueous complex?
• Cu²⁺ -> Pale blue
When a transition metal in a complex ion changes oxidation number, what type of reaction is it?
Redox
What is a reduction potential?
The electrode potential when a transition metal is reduced.