Chemistry 1.3 Properties of Transition Metals

• Typical properties of transition metals

  • Very lustrous
  • Hard
  • Strong
  • Good conductors of heat and electricity
  • Highly dense
  • Have very high melting points
• Transition metals


  Can have more than one oxidation state as they can lose a different number of electrons, depending on the chemical environment they are in
• Melting point, density and common ions of the elements Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni and Cu

  • Cr
  • Mn
  • Fe
  • Co
  • Ni
  • Cu
• Compounds containing transition elements in different oxidation states will have different properties and colours in aqueous solutions
• Transition metals themselves do not display a range of colours, it is the compounds they form that are colourful
• Catalysis


  • Transition elements are used extensively as catalysts
  • They speed up the rate of a reaction without being used up in the process
  • Their catalytic characteristics stem from their ability to interchange between a range of oxidation states
  • This allows them to form complexes with reagents which can easily donate and accept electrons from other chemical species within a reaction system
• Common transition metal catalysts

  • Iron used in the Haber Process
  • Vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) used in the Contact Process to produce sulfuric acid
  • Nickel used in the hydrogenation of alkenes
• Use of transition metals in medicine and surgical applications

  • Titanium is useful as it is the only element that can bond with bones due to its high biocompatibility
• Other industrial applications of transition metals

  • Forming coloured compounds in dyes and paints
  • Used in creating stained glass, jewellery and in anti-corrosive materials
• You should be able to recall at least two applications of the transition elements and state why they are used in that application
• Differences between transition metals and alkali metals (Group 1)

  • Transition metals can form ions with variable charges, while Group 1 metals form ions with a +1 charge
  • Transition metals are much harder, stronger and denser than Group 1 metals, which are very soft and light
  • Transition metals have much higher melting points than Group 1 metals
  • Transition metals are much less reactive than Group 1 metals
• A group 1 metal will tarnish in the presence of oxygen


  As a metal oxide is formed
• Iron can take several weeks to react with oxygen to form iron oxide (rust)


  And requires the presence of water