Transition metals

• Transition metals


  • Harder and stronger than group 1 metals
  • Have higher melting points (except for mercury) and higher densities
  • Much less reactive and don't react as vigorously with oxygen or water
• Transition metals


  • Chromium
  • Manganese
  • Iron
  • Cobalt
  • Nickel
  • Copper
• Chromium


  Lustrous, brittle, hard metal
• Manganese


  Hard and very brittle, difficult to fuse, but easy to oxidise
• Iron


  Good conductor, rusts easily in air, strong, ductile
• Cobalt


  Brittle, hard, high melting point
• Nickel


  Hard, malleable, and ductile, fairly good conductor of heat and electricity
• Copper


  Highly ductile and conductive, malleable and soft
• Transition metals


  • They have ions with many different charges
  • Form coloured compounds
  • Are useful as catalysts
• Transition metal ion charges

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

  • Chromium: +2, +3, +6
  • Manganese: +2, +4, +6, +7
  • Iron: +2, +3
  • Cobalt: +2, +3
  • Nickel: +2
  • Copper: +2
• Uses of transition metals as catalysts


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