Properties of transition metals

• Transition elements compared to group 1:

  • Harder and stronger
  • Have higher melting points (except for mercury) and higher densities
  • Much less reactive and don't react as vigorously with oxygen or water
• Transition elements properties:

  • Chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper
  • Lustrous, brittle, hard metal
  • Hard and very brittle, difficult to fuse, but easy to oxidise
  • Good conductor, rusts easily in air, strong, ductile, malleable
  • Brittle, hard, high melting point
  • Hard, malleable, and ductile, fairly good conductor of heat and electricity
  • Highly ductile and conductive, malleable and soft
• Typical properties of transition elements:

  • They have ions with many different charges
  • Form coloured compounds
  • Are useful as catalysts
• Ion charges of transition elements:

  • Chromium: +2, +3, +6
  • Manganese: +2, +4, +6, +7
  • Iron: +2, +3, +4, +5, +6
  • Cobalt: +2, +3, +4, +5
  • Nickel: +2, +3, +4
  • Copper: +1, +2, +3
• Colours of compounds with transition metals having these charges:

  • Chromium: +2 (green), +3 (blue), +6 (yellow)
  • Manganese: +2 (pink), +4 (green), +6 (purple), +7 (brown)
  • Iron: +2 (pale green), +3 (brown), +4 (green), +5 (blue), +6 (yellow)
  • Cobalt: +2 (pink), +3 (blue), +4 (green), +5 (brown)
  • Nickel: +2 (green), +3 (blue), +4 (green)
  • Copper: +1 (blue), +2 (green), +3 (green)
• Uses as a catalyst for transition elements:

  • Decomposition of hydrogen peroxide (2H2O2 -> 2H2O + O2)
  • For Haber process (N2 + 3H2 ↔ 2NH3)
  • Manufacture of margarine (adding H2 to double bonds)