Properties

• Transition metals are d block elements that can form at least one stable ion with an incomplete d sub level this would be from Titanium to Copper
• When transition metals form ions, the 4s electrons are removed before 3d electrons. This means that nearly all of them make stable 2+ ions
• Physical properties of transition metals:

  • High density
  • High boiling and melting point
  • Malleable
• Chemical properties of transition metals (caused by incomplete d sublevels):

  • Form complex ions
  • Form coloured ions
  • Good catalysts
• Complex ions

  A complex consists of a central metal ions surrounded by ligands forming coordinate/dative bonds with the ions
• A ligand is an ion or molecule with a lone pair of electrons that form a dative covalent bond with the central ion
• Coordination number is the number of coordinate/dative bonds in a transition metal ion complex
• Oxidation number is the oxidation state of the central metal ion