Transition metals 3.2.5 Flashcards
What is a transition metal?
An element that has an incomplete d sub shell in either its atoms or one of its common ions
Where are the transition metals found in periodic table?
D-block
is Zn = [Ar] 3d10 4s2 a transition metal?
No as it has a full d sub shell
What are the four common properties of transition metals?
1) formation of complexes
2) forming coloured compounds
3) variable oxidation states
4) catalytic action
What is a ligand?
A particle the lone pair of electrons that bonds to metals by a coordinate bond
What is a complex?
A metal ion with coordinately bonded ligands
What is the coordination number?
The number of coordinate bonds from ligands to the metal ion
What is a Lewis base?
A lone pair donor or a nucleophile
What is a Lewis acid?
A lone pair acceptor of electrophile
What is a unidentate ligand?
examples?
a ligand which forms one coordinate bond so has one lone pair
e.g. Cl , OH-, H2O, NH3
What is a bidentate ligand?
examples?
a ligand which forms two coordinate bonds so has two lone pairs
e.g. C2O4 2- (ethanedioate ion)
What is a multidentate ligand?
examples?
a ligand which forms more than two coordinate bonds so has more than two lone pairs
e.g. EDTA4-
What is a ligand substitution?
When one ligand is replaced by another ligand
What happens if the ligand substitution reaction occurs with similar sized ligands?
They’ll be no change in the coordination number or shape
What happens if the ligand substitution reaction occurs with different sized ligands?
The coordination number and size will change
Can ligands be replaced by one that forms more coordinate bonds?
Yes
For example, six unidentate ligands can be replaced by three bidentate ligands
What changes if the ligands are replaced by ones that form more coordinate bonds?
There’ll be an increase in entropy
In substitution reactions, what is the value of ΔH?
ΔH = negligible
What does the feasibility of substitution reaction depend on?
What makes a reaction feasible
ΔG = ΔH - ΔS
If the ΔH is negligible and ΔS is very positive then ΔG is very negative and the reaction is feasible
What is the chelate effect?
Entropy change making the reaction feasible and more stable when more coordinate bonds are formed
What are chelating agents
ligands that form more than one coordinate bonds as the increase entropy
What is the coordination number of a linear complex?
example?
2
Ag + in tollens reagent
What is the coordination number of a square planar complex?
example?
4
Pt 2+ in cisplatin
What is the coordination number of a tetrahedral complex?
example?
4
Cl - in [CuCL4]
What is the coordination number of an octahedral complex?
example?
6
H2O in [Cu(H2O)6]2+
What is the haemoglobin?
A globular protein that contains 4 Fe2+ centres each with a multidentate that takes up 4/6 coordination sites
How does oxygen bind to haemoglobin?
The other two sites that are not bonded to the porphyrin ligand allow oxygen to bind
Why is carbon monoxide or cyanide ions toxic?
carbon monoxide or cyanide ions are better ligands than oxygen so bind more easily and prevent the transport of oxygen
What kind isomerism can complexes form?
What is the definition?
Stereoisomerism
- complexes that have the same structural molecular formula but the bonds are arranged differently in space
What are the two types of Stereoisomerism ?
cis-trans and optical
In what type of complexes can cis-trans isomerism form?
octahedral and square planar
In what type of complexes can optical isomerism form?
Octahedral with three bidentate ligands
do the 5 D orbitals in transition metals all have the same energy?
no - They are split into higher and lower energy orbitals
Why are transition metal ions coloured?
- the gap between the higher and lower energy orbitals corresponds to the energy of visible light
- the electrons in the d orbitals absorb light and use the energy to excite electrons into the higher energy level
- the colour of visible light is reflected I’m not absorbed to excite electrons is the colour that the ion will b
What are the four factors that affects the colour of the transition metal ions?
1) the identity of the metal
2) the oxidation state of the metal
3) the identity of the ligands
4) the coordination number
If any of the four factors that affect the colour of the transition metal ions are changed what will happen?
The size of the energy gap between the higher and lower D orbitals will change so the frequency of light that is absorbed will change which changes the colour of light reflected so changes the colour of the ion
What is the equation for calculating the energy gap between the higher and lower d orbitals
ΔE = h x f = (h x c)/λ
What do all the symbols in the energy gap calculation mean?
ΔE = energy gap (J) h = Planck's constant f = frequency of light (s-1) c = speed of light (ms) λ = wavelength (m)
What error is often made when calculating the energy gap?
Wavelengths are often given in nanometres so you need to convert this value into meters by dividing it by 10^9
How can frequencies of light absorbed be measured?
With a UV/ visible light spectrometer
How does a UV/ visible light spectrometer work?
- Light is passed through the complex and the frequencies of light passing through are detected and those that do not pass through are absorbed
- a graph of wavelength versus absorption is then plotted