Introduction of

Transition Elements
1

Prof. Dr. Fakhili Gul

UNIVERSITAS SRIWIJAYA

20_431

Sc Ti

Nb Mo Tc Ru Rh Pd Ag Cd

Zr

La Hf

Cr Mn Fe Co Ni

Ta W

Re Os

Ir

Pt

Cu Zn

20_432

Au Hg

d-block transition elements

Ac Unq Unp Unh Uns Uno Une Uun Uuu

Sc

Ti

Cr

Mn

Fe

Co

Ni

Cu

Zn

Zr

Nb

Mo

Tc

Ru

Rh

Pd

Ag

Cd

La*

Hf

Ta

Re

Os

Ir

Pt

Au

Hg

Ac Unq Unp Unh Uns Uno Une Uun Uuu

f-block transition elemen ts
Ce Pr Nd Pm Sm Eu Gd Tb Dy Ho Er Tm Yb Lu

*Lanthanides

Ce

Pr

Nd

Pm Sm

Th Pa

Actinides

Th

Pa

Np

Np Pu Am Cm Bk Cf

Es Fm Md No Lr

The d block:

The d block consists of three horizontal

series in periods 4, 5 & 6

10

elements in each series

Chemistry is different from other
elements

Special electronic configurations important
Differences within a group in the d block
are less sharp than in s & p block
Similarities across a period are greater

Eu

Gd

Tb

Dy

Ho

Er

Tm

Yb

Lu

Pu Am Cm

Bk

Cf

Es

Fm Md

No

Lr

What is a transition metal?

Transition metals [TMs] have characteristic

properties

e.g.

coloured compounds, variable oxidation

states

These are due to presence of an inner

incomplete d sub-shell

Electrons from both inner d sub-shell and
outer s sub-shell can be involved in
compound formation

What is a transition metal?

For this reason, a transition metal is

Not all d block elements have

defined as being an element which

incomplete d sub-shells
Zn has e.c. of [Ar]3d104s2, the Zn2+ ion
([Ar] 3d10) is not a typical TM ion

e.g.

Sc forms Sc3+ which has the

stable e.c of Ar. Sc3+ has no 3d electrons

Similarly

Why Study Descriptive Chemistry of

Transition Metals

Transition metals are found in nature

Rocks

and minerals contain transition metals

The

color of many gemstones is due to the

presence of transition metal ions
 Rubies are
 Sapphires

red due to Cr

are blue due to presence of Fe and Ti

Many

biomolecules contain transition metals that

are involved in the functions of these biomolecules
 Vitamin

forms at least one ion with a partially

filled sub-shell of d electrons.

In

period 4 only Ti-Cu are TMs!

Note

that when d block elements form ions

the s electrons are lost first

Why Study Descriptive Chemistry of

Transition Metals

Transition metals and their compounds have

many useful applications

Fe

is used to make steel and stainless steel

is used to make lightweight alloys

Transition metal compounds are used as pigments

Ti

 TiO2

= white
= yellow
 Fe4[Fe(CN)6]3 (prussian blue)= blue
 PbCrO4

Transition

B12 contains Co

 Hemoglobin, myoglobin, and cytochrome

What is a transition metal?

C contain Fe

Why Study Descriptive Chemistry of

Transition Metals

metal compounds are used in many

industrial processes

General Properties of the d-Block

Elements and Their Trends

To understand the uses and

applications of transition metals

and their compounds, we need to
understand their chemistry.

Our focus will be on the 4th period

transition elements.

Prof. Dr. Fakhili Gul

UNIVERSITAS SRIWIJAYA

General Properties of the d-Block

Elements and Their Trends

Fourth-period d-block

elements form ionic bonds

with somewhat less ionic
character than do the
metals of the s-block.

Ti through Fe have three
or more oxidation states.

For Co through Zn,
relative energies of the 4s
and 3d subshells are such
that few (or no) 3d
electrons are lost in
forming ions.

General Properties of the d-Block

Elements and Their Trends

For Zn, the 4s3d

energy difference
is so large that
only 4s electrons
are lost.

Some Properties of
the Fourth Period d-Block

In the fourth-period d-block, only

scandium is active enough to displace H2

from H2O.

These elements have moderate to high
melting points and moderately high
densities.

Electrical and thermal conductivities of
these elements are very high. Copper is
second only to silver in electrical
conductivity.

Atomic Radii of the d-Block Elements

Size does not appear to

increase significantly between

fifth and sixth period elements.

The electrons in 4f orbitals are
not very good at screening
valence electrons from the
nucleus.

Thus, the strength of attraction
of valence electrons to the
nucleus is greater than
expected in the sixth period.
The phenomenon is known as
the lanthanide contraction.

Other Properties

Although some elements such as ruthenium and

osmium can attain high oxidation states (+4, +8), those

states often correspond to molecular compounds rather
than ionic compounds (OsO4, mp = 25 C, RuO4, mp =
41 C).

Lower oxidation states (+2, +3) usually correspond to
ionic character.

Differences in behavior between main-group and d-block
elements regarding complex ion formation, color,
magnetic properties, and catalytic activity all reflect the
different roles played by s, p, and d orbitals.
18

Atomic Radii

19

Period 4 Transition Metals

Orbital Occupancy

Transition Metals

Oxidation States of Transition Elements

Characteristics due to d electrons:

multiple oxidation states

Compounds typically have color

Exhibit interesting magnetic
properties
paramagnetism
ferromagnetism

Sc

Ti

Cr

Mn Fe

Co

Ni

Cu

Zn

+1

Exhibit

+3

+2

+2

+2

+2

+2

+2

+2

+3

+3

+3

+3

+3

+3

+3

+4

+4

+4

+4

+4

+5

+5

+5

+5

+6

+6

+6

+2

+2

+7

Oxidation States of Transition Elements

Oxidation States & d-Orbital Occupancy

loss of ns e-s
loss of ns and (n-1)d e-s

Electronic Configurations of
Transition Metal Ions

Electronic configuration of Fe2+

Fe 2e- Fe2+
[Ar]3d64s2

[Ar]3d6

valence ns e-s removed first

Electronic Configurations of
Transition Metal Ions

Electronic configuration of Fe3+

Fe 3e- Fe3+
[Ar]3d64s2

[Ar]3d5

valence ns e-s removed first,

then n-1 d e-s

Electronic Configurations of
Transition Metal Ions

Electronic configuration of Co3+

Co 3e- Co3+
[Ar]3d74s2

Electronic Configurations of
Transition Metal Ions

Electronic configuration of Mn4+

Mn 4e- Mn4+
[Ar]3d54s2

[Ar]3d3

[Ar]3d6

valence ns e-s removed first,

then n-1 d e-s

valence ns e-s removed first,

then n-1 d e-s

Metallic Behavior/Reducing Strength

Lower oxidation state = more metallic

Transition Metal Trace Elements in

Humans

Standard Electrode Potentials

Hemoglobin & Oxyhemoglobin