Transition metals
Jerry
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D-block element and the transition metals
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Electronic configurations
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Transition element
The formal definition of a transition element is that it is one that forms at least
one stable ion with a part full d-shell of electrons.
Sc and Zn are not.
• Variable oxidation states: for example, Cu(I) and Cu(I)
• Colour: The majority of transition metal ions are coloured, forexample,Cu2+(aq)is
blue.
• Catalysis: Many transition metals, and their compounds, show catalytic activity.
• Complex formation: Transition elements form complex ions. For example,
[Cu(H,O)]2+ is a complex ion that is formed when copper sulfate dissolves in water. 4
Complex formation
All transition metal ions can form co-ordinate bonds by accepting
electron pairs from other ions or molecules. The bonds that are formed
are co-ordinate (dative) bonds. An ion or molecule with a lone pair.
An ion or molecule with a lone pair of electrons that forms a co-ordinate
bond with a transition metal is called a ligand.
The number of co-ordinate bonds to ligands that surround the d-block
metal ion is called the co-ordination number.
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Complex
Octahedral Tetrahedral Square planar
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Aqua ions
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Multidentate ligands - chelation
Some molecules or ions, called multidentate ligands, have more than
one atom with a lone pair of electrons which can bond to a transition metal
ion.
Cr (en)3
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乙二酸，草酸
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Multidentate ligands - chelation
Some molecules or ions, called multidentate ligands, have more than
one atom with a lone pair of electrons which can bond to a transition metal
ion.
This can act as a hexadentate
ligand using lone pairs on four
oxygen and both nitrogen atoms.
Complex ions with polydentate
ligands are called chelates.
Chelates can be used to
effectively remove d-block metal
ions from solution.
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Chelate effect
In this equation, two species are replaced by seven. This increase in the
number of particles causes a significant increase in entropy which drives
the reaction to the right. For this reason chelate complexes with
polydentate ligands are favoured over complexes with monodentate
ligands and is called the chelate effect.
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Haemoglobin
Red pigment in the blood.
O2 is not a very good ligand.
CO is a better ligand.
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Shape of complex ion
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Geometrical isomerism
Ligands are next to each other (cis or Z-
form)
Ligands are on the opposite sides of the
central chromium. (trans or E- form)
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Colored ions
Why?
• Transition metal compounds are coloured because they have part-filled d-
orbitals.
• It is therefore possible for electrons to move from one d-orbital to another.
• In an isolated transition metal atom, all the d-orbitals are of exactly the same
energy, but in a compound, the presence of other atoms nearby makes the
d-orbitals have slightly different energies.
• When electrons move from one d-orbital to another of a higher energy level
(called an excited state), they often absorb energy in the visible region of the
spectrum equal to the difference in energy between levels.
• This colour is therefore missing from the spectrum and you see the
combination of the colours that are not absorbed.
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Exercice
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Variable oxidation states
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Catalysis
Catalysts affect the rate of a reaction without being chemically changed
themselves at the end of the reaction. Catalysts play an important part
in industry because they allow reactions to proceed at lower
temperatures and pressures thus saving valuable resources.
• Heterogeneous ---- Different phase
• Homogeneous ----- Same phase
• Poisoning: Surface is covered with unwanted impurities.
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AutoCatalysis
An interesting example of catalysis occurs when one of the products of
the reaction is a catalyst for the reaction.
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Thank you
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