Transition Metals Flashcards
What are important applications for transition metals?
Catalysis e.g. Platinum, biological significance e.g. Iron in haemoglobin
What block of the periodic table contains transition metals?
d
What are transition elements?
Elements which have an incomplete d subshell in at least one of their ions.
What subshell, 4s or 3d, is filled first and why?
4s as it is slightly lower in energy
What is a familiar feature of the transition metals chemistry?
Variable valency. Possible as they can lose 4s electrons and some/all of 3d electrons to form positive ions. In forming positive ions, the electrons being lost will come from the subshell of highest energy
What is oxidation and reduction?
Oxidation is a loss of electrons.
Reduction is a gain of electrons
What is oxidation and reduction in terms of oxidation number?
Oxidation is an increase in oxidation number, reduction is a decrease
What does a complex consist of?
A central metal ion surrounded by ligands
What are ligands?
Electron donors and may be negative ions/ molecules with non bonding pairs of electrons (lone pairs). They are molecules/ ions that bond to the central metal ion in a complex
What are different types of ligands and give e.g’s
1) monodentate ligands. (Using only one donor arm) e.g. Chloride ion, cyanide ion, ammonia molecule, water molecule
2) bidentate ligands, e.g. Oxalate, ethylenediamine
3) hexadentate, e.g. EDTA
What is EDTA used for?
To trap transition metal ions which could potentially catalyse the decomposition of the product
What is the coordination number of the central ion?
The number of bonds from the central metal ion to the ligands
What are the primary colours?
Red green and blue
What are the secondary colours?
Yellow, cyan, magenta
What is the complementary colour?
The colour that remains when one colour is removed from white light
