Transition Metals Flashcards
Transition metal
Any of the set of metallic elements occupying the central d block of the periodic table
What is a transition metal defined as?
An element that has an incomplete d subshell either in the element or in one of its ions
What are the common properties of the transition metals (period 4)?
- they form complex ions
- their ions are coloured
- they show catalytic activity
- their oxidation states are variable
Why is scandium not considered a transition metal?
The normal scandium ion formed has no electrons in the d orbital
Why is zinc not considered a transition metal?
Normal zinc ions have a complete d subshell
Complex ions with water ligands are called
Metal-aqua ions. They may be represented as Cu^2+ (aq) for example
From Mn^2+ to Cu^2+ the reactivity of divalent (2+) metal-aqua ions
Increases
Complete ligand substitution
All ligands are replaced
Incomplete ligand substitution
Only some ligands are replaced
Is the substitution of a Cu^2+ aqua complex with ammonia complete or incomplete?
Incomplete because the complex ion with four ammonia and two water molecules is energetically more stable than the complexes with six water or six ammonia molecules
Is the reaction of ligand substitution reversible or irreversible?
Reversible
Why is there a change in coordination number when halide ions undergo ligand substitution with complexes containing water and/or ammonia ligands only?
Halide ions are larger than water and ammonia ligands, therefore the metal ions can only coordinate 4 halide ions. Coordination number changes from 6 to 4
Give two examples of bidentate ligands
Ethylenediamine (H2NCH2CH2NH2) and ethanedioate (oxalate) (C2O4)^-
Give two examples of multidentate ligands
Ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA^4-) and sarcophagine (SAR)
What are multidentate ligands also known as? Why?
Chelating agents as they form very stable complexes with transition metal ions
What is a ligand?
A molecule or ion that can form a coordinate bond to a metal by donating a pair of electrons
A complex ion is
A metal ion surround by ligands
Give an example of a linear complex
[Ag(NH3)2]^+, complex formed in Tollen’s reagent
Why are certain colours produced in transition metal compounds?
Some wavelengths of light are absorbed and others are reflected or transmitted
Quanta
Single packets of energy in light photons
Frequency
The number of wavelengths of light passing a particular point in one second
When light is absorbed, electrons in the d orbital…
… move from the ground state to an excited state
When light is absorbed, what factors affect the value of ΔE?
- the ligand size
- the strength of the ligand-metal bond in the complex
- the shape of the complex
- the coordination number
- the oxidation state of the metal in the central ion
The colour of a transition metal complex ion is due to
the absorption of light with energy that can excite an electron from a 3d orbital of lower energy to one of higher energy
When transition metal atoms form complex ions, what happens to the d orbital?
It is ‘split’ into two levels, one of higher energy and one of lower energy. This is because the electrons in the ligand repel the electrons in the 3d orbitals which are in close proximity.
What are strong-field ligands?
Ones that induce a large ΔE, e.g. CN^-, CO and P(C6H5)3