Transition metals and nanoparticles

• Transition Metals


  Can be found in the middle of the Periodic Table
• Transition Metals


  • Their properties are similar to each other, but are different from the Group 1 metals
  • Relatively high melting point
  • Relatively high density
  • Relatively high strength
  • Relatively high hardness
  • React very slowly, if at all, with oxygen, water, and Halogens
• Group 1 metals


  • Relatively low melting point
  • Relatively low density
  • Relatively low strength
  • Relatively low hardness
  • React easily with oxygen, water, and Halogens
• Catalysts


  Transition Metals are very useful as they increase the rate of a reaction without being used up
• Coloured compounds


  When Transition Metals form compounds, they often take on a colour
• Ion charge


  Group 1 metals only form 2+ ions, Group 2 metals only form 2+ ions, but Transition Metals can form many differently charged ions
• Surface area-to-volume ratio


  As the side length decreases by a factor of ten, the surface area-to-volume ratio increases by a factor of ten
• Nanoparticles often have very different properties to bulk materials of the same substance, caused by their high surface area-to-volume ratio
• Uses of nanoparticles


  • Healthcare
  • Electronics
  • Cosmetics
  • Catalysts
• Nanoparticles have the potential to be hazardous to health and ecosystems, so it is important they are researched further
• Bulk


  The normal, non-nanoscale form of a material
• Catalyst


  A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed
• Properties


  The characteristics or qualities of a substance
• Charge


  The electrical charge of an ion
• Surface area-to-volume ratio


  The ratio of the surface area to the volume of an object
• Density


  The mass per unit volume of a substance
• Nanoparticles


  Particles with dimensions in the range of 1-100 nanometres
• Particulate matter


  Very small particles suspended in the air
• Transition Metal


  An element that is found in the middle of the periodic table, with properties that are different from the Group 1 and Group 2 metals
• Where are Transition Metals found on the Periodic Table?

  the middle
• How do the melting points of Transition Metals compare to those of Group 1 metals?

  higher (Transition metals)
• How do the densities of Transition Metals compare to those of Group 1 metals?

  higher (Transition metals)
• How do the strengths of Transition Metals compare to those of Group 1 metals?

  Transition Metals: Variable oxidation states, colored compounds, catalytic properties. Group 1 Metals: Highly reactive, soft, low melting points.
• How does the hardness of a Transition Metal compare to that of a Group 1 metal?

  Transition Metal: Variable Group 1 Metal: Softer
• How does the reactivity of Transition Metals with oxygen, halogens, and water compare to that of Group 1 metals?

  Transition Metals: Lower Group 1 Metals: Higher
• What are the Transition Metals used for?

  Catalysts
• Give the distinctive properties of Transition Metal compounds.

  form ions with different charges and coloured compounds
• What is the difference between the charges of Transition Metal ions and Group 1 ions?

  Transition Metal ions have variable charges, while Group 1 ions have a fixed charge of +1.
• How big are nanoparticles?

  1-100 nanometers
• How are nanomaterials different from bulk materials?

  nanomaterials have a much higher surface area to volume ratio
• What is the relationship between side length and surface area to volume ratio?

  as side length decreases be a factor of ten, the surface area to volume ratio increases by a factor of ten.
• What are nanoparticles used for?

  used in healthcare, electronics, cosmetics, and catalysts
• How big are fine particles?

  100-2500nm
• How big are coarse particles?

  2.5 x 10^-6 to 1 x 10^-5m