Unit 2: Section 4 - Transition metals CDS * Flashcards
transition metals - the basics complex ions more on complex ions formation of coloured ions substitution reactions variable oxidation states titrations with transition metals catalysts metal-aqua ions more on metal-aqua ions
what is a transition metal?
A transition metal is a metal that can form one or more stable ions with a partially filled d sub-shell
where can transition metals be found in the periodic table?
in the d - block
which elements in the period 4 d-block are transition metals?
all of them except scandium and zinc
remember chromium and copper only have 1 electron in their 4s orbital and all the rest have 2
what causes the special chemical properties of transition metals?
the incomplete d sub-shell
why isn’t scandium a transition metal?
scandium only forms 1 ion, Sc 3+, which has an empty d sub-shell
electron configuration of Sc 3+ = [Ar]
why isn’t zinc a transition metal?
it only forms 1 ion, Zn 2+, which has a full d sub-shell
electron configuration of Zn 2+ = [Ar] 3d^10
what happens when transition metals form ions?
the s electron are removed first, then the d electrons to form positive ions
what physical properties do transition metals have?
high density
high melting and boiling points
ionic radii are very similar
what chemical properties do transition metals have?
can form complex ions
form coloured ions
good catalysts
exist in variable oxidation states
what colours can vanadium ions be?
VO2 = yellow
VO 2+ = blue
V 3+ = green
V 2+= violet
what colour can chromium ions be?
Cr2O7 2- = orange
Cr 3+ = green (violet with water ligands)
what colour can manganese ions be?
MnO4 - = purple
Mn 2+ = pale pink
what colour can iron ions be?
Fe 3+ = yellow (purple with water ligands)
Fe 2+ = pale green
what colour can cobalt, nickel and copper ions be?
Co 2+ = pink
Ni 2+ = green
Cu 2+ = blue
why do transition metals have variable oxidation states?
the energy levels of the 4s and 3d sub - levels are very close to one another. so different numbers of electrons can be gained or lost using fairly similar amounts of energy
what is a complex?
a complex is a central atom or ion surrounded by coordinately bonded ligands
what is a coordinate (dative covalent) bond?
a covalent bond in which both electrons in the shared pair come from the same atom.
in a complex they come from ligands
what is a ligand?
an atom, ion or molecule that donates a lone pair of electrons to a central transition metal ion to form a co-ordinate bond
what is the coordination number?
the number of coordinate bonds that are formed with the central metal ion
when is the co-ordination number 6?`
when the ligands are small: H2O, NH3
shape: octahedral
bond angles: 90*
the O or the N donates the electrons
when is the co-ordination number 4?
if the ligands are larger: Cl-
shape: tetrahedral
bond angle: 109.5*
when is a complex square planar?
platinum or nickel centre
e.g. platinum centre with 2 NH3 ligands and 2 Cl - ligands
bond angle: 90*
when is the co-ordination number 2?
when the metal ion centre is silver
shape: linear
bond angle: 180*
what is the overall charge of a complex ion?
a.k.a. total oxidation state
the charge outside the square brackets of the complex
how to work out the oxidation state of the metal ion in a coplex?
total oxidation state - sum of the oxidation states of the ligands
what are monodentate ligands?
ligands that can only form 1 coordinate bond e.g. H2O, NH3, Cl-
what are bidentate ligands?
ligands that can form 2 coordinate bonds
they each have 2 lone pairs, so can form 2 co-ordinate bonds
e.g. NH2CH2CH2NH2
OOCCOO 2-
what are multidentate ligands?
ligands that can form more than 1 coordinate bond
e.g. EDTA 4- has 6 lone pairs to form 6 coordinate bonds
what is haemoglobin?
a Fe2+ ion bonded to a multidentate ligand (haem) hat forms 4 co-ordinate bonds from nitrogen
a globin protein acts as another ligand
the final ligand is either oxygen or water
how can carbon monoxide disrupt haemoglobin|?
the water ligand is swapped for a carbon monoxide ligand, which is very strong so doesn’t swap back for an oxygen
how can complex ions show optical isomerism?
it happens to octahedral complexes with 3 bidentate ligands
the ion can exist as 2 non-superimposable mirror images
what is cis-trans isomerism?
a type of stereoisomerism which is a special case of E/Z isomerism
how can cis-trans isomerism occur in octahedral complexes?
4 monodentate ligands of 1 type and 2 of another
cis = 2 odd ligands are next to each other
trans = 2 odd ligands are opposite each other
how can cis-trans isomerism occur in square planar complexes?
2 pairs of mondentate ligands
cis = the pairs are next to each other
trans = the pairs are opposite each other
what happens to the 3 d orbitals of transition metals when ligands bind?
some of the 3d orbitals gain energy and are split into different energy levels
electrons tend to occupy lower orbitals, to jump to higher energy levels they need energy equal to the energy gap from visible light
how can you work out the energy absorbed when electrons jump to a higher orbital in complex ions?
ΔE = hv = hc/λ v = frequency of light absorbed (Hz) h = Planck's constant (6.63 x 10 ^-34 Js) c = the speed of light (3 x 10 ^8 m/s) λ = wavelength of light absorbed (m)
what is the amount of energy needed for electrons to jump dependent on?
the central metal ion
its oxidation state
ligands
co-ordination number
what determines the colour of a complex ion?
the frequencies of light that are not absorbed to make electrons jump to higher orbitals are transmitted/reflected so you see them
when is a compound colourless?
if there are no 3d electrons or the shells are full, no electrons will jump, so no frequencies of light are absorbed
compound will look white or colourless
how can the colour of a complex be altered?
changes in oxidation state (Fe 2+ and Fe 3+)
changes in co-ordination number (octahedral to tetrahedral)
changes in ligand (H2O to NH3)