General Properties of the d-Block

Elements and Their Trends

Prof. Dr. Fakhili Gulõ

UNIVERSITAS SRIWIJAYA
 General Properties of the d-Block
Elements and Their Trends

 Fourth-period d-block For Zn, the 4s–3d

elements form ionic bonds energy difference
with somewhat less ionic is so large that
only 4s electrons
character than do the are lost.
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
 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.
7
8
Atomic Radii
Period 4 Transition Metals
Orbital Occupancy
 Transition Metals

 Characteristics due to d electrons:

Exhibit multiple oxidation states
Compounds typically have color

Exhibit interesting magnetic

properties
paramagnetism
ferromagnetism
 Oxidation States of Transition Elements

Sc Ti V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni Cu Zn
+1
+2 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2
+3 +3 +3 +3 +3 +3 +3 +3
+4 +4 +4 +4 +4
+5 +5 +5 +5
+6 +6 +6
+7
 Oxidation States of Transition Elements

Sc Ti V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni Cu Zn
+1 +1
+2 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2 +2
+3 +3 +3 +3 +3 +3 +3 +3 +3
+4 +4 +4 +4 +4 +4
+5 +5 +5 +5
+6 +6 +6
+7
06-Oct-14 Ch. 24 11

loss of ns e-s
loss of ns and (n-1)d e-s
Oxidation States & d-Orbital Occupancy
 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 [Ar]3d6

valence ns e-’s removed first,

then n-1 d e-’s
 Electronic Configurations of
Transition Metal Ions

 Electronic configuration of Mn4+

Mn – 4e-  Mn4+
[Ar]3d54s2 [Ar]3d3

valence ns e-’s removed first,

then n-1 d e-’s
Metallic Behavior/Reducing Strength
Lower oxidation state = more metallic
Standard Electrode Potentials
Transition Metal Trace Elements in
Humans
Hemoglobin & Oxyhemoglobin