Transition Metals Flashcards
Define a transition element
An element which forms at least one stable ion with a partially full d-shell of electrons
Where are the transition metals located in the periodic table?
In the middle (block from Ti to Cu) - part of the d-block
What are some characteristic physical properties of
transition metals?
Metallic, good conductors of heat and electricity, hard, strong, shiny, high m.p., high b.p., low reactivity.
Some uses of iron?
Vehicle bodies, to reinforce concrete
Some uses of titanium?
Jet engine parts
Some uses of copper?
Water pipes
What are the characteristic chemical properties of transition metals (4)?
Variable oxidation states → take part in many redox reactions
Coloured compounds/ions in solution
Good catalysts
Form complex ions
Define the term complex ion
Central transition metal ion surrounded by ligands (other ions/molecules) that are
co-ordinated bonded to it.
Give some example of transition metals catalysts and the processes/reactions they catalyse (3)?
Iron - Haber process
Vanadium (V) oxide - Contact process
MnO2 - decomposition of H2O2
Which electrons do transition metals lose first when forming ions?
4s
Define the term ligand
An ion or molecule with at least one lone pair of electrons, that donates them to a transition metal ion to form a co-ordinate bond and thus a complex ion.
Define the term mono /unidentate ligands
A ligand that forms one co-ordinate bond to the central metal ion (one lone pair to donate)
Define the term bidentate ligand.
A ligand that forms two co-ordinate bonds to the central metal ion (2 lone pairs to donate)
Define the term multidentate ligand.
A ligand that forms three or more co-ordinate bonds to the central metal ion
Give some examples of common monodentate ligands (4).
Cl-, H2O, NH3, CN-
How many co-ordinate bonds can ethanedioate form to a transition metal ion?
2 co-ordinate bonds
How many co-ordinate bonds can benzene-1,2-diol form to a transition metal ion?
2 co-ordinate bonds
How many co-ordinate bonds can ethane-1,2-diamine form to a transition metal ion?
2 co-ordinate bonds
How many co-ordinate bonds does EDTA4- form?
6
What is the shortened
name of ethane-1,2-diamine?
en
Define the term coordination number
The number of co-ordinate bonds the metal ion has formed to surrounding ligands
What is the Chelate effect?
Chelate complexes with multidentate ligands are
favoured over monodentate ligands or ligands that form fewer co-ordinate bonds per molecule
Explain the Chelate effect in terms of entropy and the reaction that is occurring
Number of molecules increases when multidentate ligands,
e.g. EDTA, displace ligands that form fewer co-ordinate
bonds per molecule
Significant increase in entropy:
Gibbs’ free energy change
< 0 → feasible reaction
A more stable complex ion is formed
What ion is usually formed when a transition metal
compound is dissolved in water? What shape is it?
Aqua ion, 6 H2O ligands
around the central metal ion.
Octahedral complex ion is formed
If a transition metal ion has 2 ligands, what shape is it usually?
Linear
If a transition metal ion has 4 ligands, what shape is it usually?
Tetrahedral
Name an exception to the general rule that ions with
4 ligands is generally tetrahedral. What shape is it?
Platin is square planar → forms cisplatin
What shape is a complex ion if it has 6 ligands?
Octahedral
How can complex ions display E-Z or cis-trans
isomerism? What shapes of ion does this apply to?
-Ligands differ in the way in which they are arranged in space
-2 ligands of the same type can be on the same side of the metal ion (next to each
other), which forms the E or cis isomer
-2 ligands of the same type can be on opposite sides of the metal ion (not next to
each other), which forms the Z or trans isomer
Applies to square planar and octahedral complex ions
What conditions are needed for a complex ion display to optical isomerism?
Usually applies to octahedral molecules with 2 or more bidentate ligands, so that the mirror images are non-superimposable
What happens to Co2+, Cu2+ and Fe3+ ‘s coordination numbers when Cl- ligands replace NH3 or H2O ligands?
Decreases from 4 to 6 as Cl- is a much larger ligand than H2O and NH3
What is haem - its metal ion, coordination number and ligands?
A molecule which makes up protein chains, with an Fe2+
central metal ion, which has a coordination number of 6.
4 of these bonds are to a ring system called porphyrin. 1 is to the nitrogen of a globin (protein) molecule and one is to an oxygen in an O2 molecule
How does haemoglobin transport oxygen?
O2 forms a weak coordinate bond to the metal ion, then is transported around the body.
The bond breaks when haemoglobin reaches cells
and oxygen is released
Why is CO toxic?
CO also coordinately bonds to the Fe2+, and is a better ligand, so bonds more strongly than O2.
Stops O2 from bonding to haemoglobin, so O2 cannot be transported around the body
Why are transition metal compounds coloured?
- They have partially filled d-orbitals and electrons are able to move between the d-orbitals.
- In compounds (when ligands coordinately bond to the ion), the d-orbitals split into different energy levels.
- Electrons can absorb energy in the form of photons to become excited to a higher energy level
- Energy of photon = energy difference between levels
- Energy of photon is related to frequency of light by E =hf
- The colour corresponding to the frequency of the energy change is missing from the spectrum, so we see a combination of all the colours that aren’t absorbed
How do you calculate ΔE from f and/or λ?
ΔE=hf=hc÷λ
What affects the colour of a transition metal compound?
ΔE affects the frequency of absorbed photons, so determines the colour.
ΔE is changed by oxidation state of the metal, number and type of ligands, shape, co-ordination number
What is the oxidation number and colour for VO2^+?
Oxidation number: 5+
Colour: Yellow
What is the oxidation number and colour for VO^2+?
Oxidation number: 4+
Colour: Blue
What is the oxidation number and colour for V^3+?
Oxidation number: 3+
Colour: Green
What is the oxidation number and colour for V^2+?
Oxidation number: 2+
Colour: Violet
What can you use to reduce Vanadium?
Zinc
What colour is Fe2+’s aqua ion?
Green
What colour is Fe3+’s aqua
ion?
Pale brown
What colour is Cr2+’s aqua ion?
blue
What colour is Cr3+’s aqua ion?
red/violet
What colour is Co2+’s aqua ion?
Brown
What colour is Co3+’s aqua ion?
Yellow
What does a colorimeter do?
Measures the absorbance of a particular wavelength of light by a solution
How would you use colorimetry experimentally?
Use solutions of known concentration to create a
calibration graph; find unknown concentration
What information can a colorimeter give you?
The concentration of a certain ion in the solution
Why can transition metals have variable oxidation states?
They have partially filled d-orbitals, so can lose 4s and 3d electrons
Which oxidation states do all transition metals have
(except Sc)? Why?
+2 due to loss of electrons from 4s orbital
When oxidation state is high, do the transition metals exist as simple ions?
No, after oxidation state of about III, metal ions covalently bond to other species
What is the use of the complex [Ag(NH3)2)]+ ion?
Tollens’ reagent to test for
aldehydes/ketones (silver mirror formed with aldehyde, no visible change with ketone)
What colour is MnO4-?
Deep purple
What colour is Mn2+?
Pink
Write a half equation for the reduction of MnO4- to Mn2+.
MnO4- +8H+ +5e- → Mn2+ +4H2O
Why are redox titrations with transition metal compounds said to be self-indicating?
They usually involve a colour change as the metal is changing oxidation state; sometimes an indicator is still needed /useful
What colour is Cr2O72-?
Orange
What colour is Cr3+?
Green
Write a half equation for the reduction of Cr2O72- to Cr3+
Cr2O72- + 14H+ +6e- → 2Cr3+ +7H2O
What happens to aqua metal ions in acidic conditions?
They get reduced
What happens to aqua metal ions in alkaline conditions?
They get oxidised
What happens to aqua metal ions in neutral conditions?
No change
What does whether reduction/ oxidation occurs and the readiness of the reaction depend on?
E° values
What can change these E° values?
pH, ligands involved
Define a catalyst
A substance that increases the rate of a reaction without being chemically changed at the end of the reaction
How do catalysts usually work?
Provide an alternative reaction pathway with a
lower activation energy
Why are transition metals good catalysts?
They can exist in variable oxidation states, so can provide alternative pathways easily
Why are group 1, 2 and 3 metals not as good catalysts?
Only exist in one oxidation state
What are advantages of using a catalyst for a reaction?
Allows reactions to proceed at lower temperatures and pressures → saves valuable
energy and resources
What metals are used in a catalytic converter and which reactions do they catalyse?
Pt, Rd, Pd
Catalyse CO, NO → CO2, N2 and CxH2x+2 →H2O, CO2
Define a heterogeneous catalyst
A catalyst that is present in the reaction in a different phase to the reactants (usually a solid,
with gas/liquid reactants).
Catalytic activity occurs on the solid surface as the reactants pass over it
What is an advantage of using a heterogeneous
catalyst?
No need for separation of products from catalyst
How do heterogeneous catalysts work?
- Reactants adsorb to the catalyst’s surface at active sites.
2.This weakens bonds within the reactants, holds reactants close together on the surface and/or in the correct orientation to
react. - Once the reaction has occurred, products desorb from the active sites.
What properties does the catalyst need to have to
make it a good catalyst?
- Can’t adsorb too strongly, otherwise the products will not desorb.
- Can’t adsorb too weakly as reactant would not be held in place for long enough and bonds would not be
sufficiently weakened. - Need a good balance between desorption and adsorption.
How can you increase the efficiency of heterogeneous catalysts?
- Increase the surface area to increase the number of active sites that are present.
- Also spread onto an inert support medium, e.g. ceramic, to increase the surface/mass ratio.
- Use ceramic honeycomb
matrix/mesh/sponge.
What is catalyst poisoning?
Unwanted impurities adsorb to the catalyst’s active sites and do not desorb.
This blocks the active sites on the catalyst’s surface
What effect does catalyst poisoning have on catalytic
activity?
Decreases the effectiveness of the catalyst over time
How else can a catalyst be degraded?
Finely divided catalysts can be gradually lost from their support medium
What is the Haber process? What catalyst is used?
N2 (g) + 3H2 (g) → 2NH3 (g) Makes ammonia
What catalyst is used during the Haber process?
Uses iron (Fe) catalyst
What size/shape is the catalyst for the Haber
process?
Pea sized lumps to increase surface area
How long does the catalyst last for the Haber process? What is it poisoned by?
About 5 years.
Poisoned by sulfur impurities in the gas streams
What is the Contact Process?
Makes H2SO4
2SO2 (g) + O2 (g) → 2SO3 (g)
What is the catalyst in the contact process?
Catalysed by vanadium (V) oxide- V2O5
What are the two reactions that are involved in the
contact process?
SO2 + V2O5 → SO3 + V2O4
V2O4 + ½O2 → V2O5
Why is V a good catalyst in the case of the contact
process?
Can change oxidation state from 5+ to 4+ and back to 5+ (so can be used again)
Define homogeneous catalyst
A catalyst that is in the same phase as the reactants.
How do homogeneous catalysts work?
Form intermediates to give a different reaction pathway with lower EA
What is the reaction between S2O82- ions and I- ions?
S2O82- + 2I- → 2SO42- + I2 (all aq)
Why does the reaction between S2O82- ions and I- ions have a high EA in normal conditions?
Two negative ions are reacting.
They repel each other so EA is high
Which transition metal ions catalyse the reaction between S2O82- ions and I- ions? Write 2 equations to show how
Fe2+
S2O82- + 2Fe2+ → 2Fe3+ + 2SO42-
2Fe3+ + 2I- → 2Fe2+ + I2
Define the term autocatalysis
When the product of a reaction is also a catalyst
for that reaction.
Write a half equation for the conversion of C2O42- ions into CO2
C2O42- → 2CO2 + 2e-
Write an equation for the reaction between C2O42- ions and MnO4- ions. How does Mn2+ autocatalyse
this reaction?
2MnO4- + 16H+ + 5C2O42- → 10CO2 + 2Mn2+ + 8H2O
1st stage: MnO4- + 4Mn2+ + 8H+ → 4H2O + 5Mn3+
2nd stage: 2Mn3+ + C2O42- → 2CO2 + 2Mn2+
How can you monitor the concentration of MnO4- ions?
Using a colorimeter
