FIRST ROW TRANSITION METALS

Presented by: Group 5

Tonian Coleman
Shauntae Lindsay
Janel Ormsby
What are Transition Metals?
● These are elements that have the ability to form stable cations with an
incompletely filled d orbital.
● They can be found at the d block on the periodic table.
● Scandium and Zinc are at the d block but are not necessarily transition
metals.
● Scandium and Zinc do not have partially filled d orbitals when they form
ions.
Transition Metals E.C and Oxidation States
Element E.C Ionic E.C Charges Oxidation #
Scandium [Ar] 3d1 4s2 [Ar] Sc3+ colourless 3
Titanium [Ar] 3d2 4s2 [Ar] 3d1 Ti3+ violet 2, 3, 4
Vanadium [Ar] 3d3 4s2 [Ar] 3d2 V3+ blue-green 2, 3, 4, 5
[Ar] 3d3 V2+ violet
Chromium [Ar] 3d5 4s1 [Ar] 3d3 Cr3+ green 2, 3, 4, 5*, 6
[Ar] 3d4 Cr2+ blue
Manganese [Ar] 3d6 4s2 [Ar] 3d5 Mn3+ violet 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,
[Ar] 3d4 Mn2+ pink 7
Element E.C Ionic E.C Charges Oxidation
States
Iron [Ar] 3d7 4s2 [Ar] 3d6 Fe3+ brown 2, 3, 4*, 5,
[Ar] 3d5 Fe2+ green 6*
Cobalt [Ar] 3d7 4s2 [Ar] 3d6 Co3+ pink 2, 3, 4*
[Ar] 3d7 Co2+ blue
Nickel [Ar] 3d8 4s2 [Ar] 3d8 Ni2+ green 2, 3

Copper [Ar] 3d10 4s1 [Ar] 3d9 Cu2+ blue 1, 2

[Ar] 3d10 Cu+ colourless
Zinc [Ar] 3d10 4s2 [Ar] 3d10 Zn2+ colourless 3
Characteristics of Transition Metals
1. Transition metals form compounds with different oxidation states.
2. Transition metals form coloured compound.
3. Transition metals form complex ions.
4. Transition metals and their compounds are often good catalysts
5. Most transition metals and their ions or compounds are paramagnetic.
This means that when they are placed in a magnetic field, they align
themselves with the field. However, they do not retain their magnetism
after the field is removed.
6. Fe, Co and NI are ferromagnetic. They retain permanent magnetism after
the field is withdrawn.
Properties of Transition Metals Compared to Calcium
Property Ca Ti V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni Cu
Melting point 0C 839 1668 1910 1857 1246 1586 1495 1455 1083
Density g/cm3 1.55 4.54 6.11 7.19 7.33 7.87 8.90 8.90 8.92
Atomic Radius pm 197 145 132 125 124 124 125 125 128
Ionic Radius pm 106 90 88 84 80 76 74 72 69
1st Ionization energy 590 661 648 753 716 762 757 736 745
Electric Conductivity 0.298 0.0234 0.0489 0.0774 0.00695 0.0993 0.596 0.143 0.172

106/cmΩ
From the table we can see that:
● The melting and boiling points of the transition metals are high in
comparison to Calcium. This is because there is a stronger metallic bonding
in transition elements than main group elements. Hence, they require more
energy to break these bonds.
● The transition metals are much denser than the s-block elements. The
density gradually decreases across the period. This is because there is a small
irregular decrease in metallic radii and a relative increase in atomic mass
across the period.
● The atomic and ionic radii of Calcium are much larger than the atomic and
ionic radii of transition metals. This is because electrons on the d orbitals are
less good at shielding the outer electrons from the nuclear charge than s or p
orbitals.
 Therefore, there is a greater force of attraction between nucleus and outer
electron, pulling the electrons closer together. This also results in small
changes in atomic and ionic radii across the period.
● The first ionization energy of transition metals are relatively higher than
that of s-block metals. This is because of the relatively greater force of
attraction between the nucleus and the outer electrons. This also results in
small changes of ionisation energy across the period.
● Most transition metals are good conductors of electricity. Those with a
single outer s electron and a half filled or completely filled d orbital are
especially good conductors. Therefore copper and chromium are better
conductors of electricity than nickel and manganese. Calcium is a good
conductor but is too reactive to use in electrical wiring.
Formation of Coloured Ions
● An electron from a lower energy d orbital is excited to a high energy d
orbital, the energy of excitation corresponds to the frequency of light
energy.
● This frequency generally lies in the visible.
● The colour of the transition metal ions is due to the presence of unpaired
or incomplete d orbitals.
● The absorption of visible light and hence coloured nature of the transition
metal cations is due to the promotion of one or more unpaired d electron
from a lower to a higher energy level within the same d-subshell. This
promotion requires small amounts of energy available is in the visible
light.
Formation of Coloured Ions
● In a more condensed form, the reason for coloured ions is the absorption
of light in different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. This
absorption occurs because of the movement of an electron from the lower
d orbital to one of the higher energy.
● Sc3+, Ti4+, Cu+ and Zn2+ have either entirely empty or entirely filled 3d-
orbital, i.e, they do not have any unpaired d-electron, and hence appear
colourless.
Variation In Oxidation State of Vanadium
● Vanadium, like the other transition metals, can form ions in several
oxidation state.
● Vanadium ions exhibits characteristic colours in its various oxidation
states.
● Vanadium is usually supplied as solid ammonium vanadate (NH4VO3).
When NH4VO3 is acidified, the vanadium becomes apart of the positive
ion, VO2+ and has a oxidation number of +5. This ion is yellow
● Vanadium also has a +4 oxidation number in the VO2+ ion. This ion is
blue.
● Vanadium also has ions V2+ (violet) with an oxidation number of +2, and
V3+ (blue green) with oxidation number +3.
Variation In Oxidation State Cont.
Electrode Potential Chart
 Variation In Oxidation State of Vanadium Cont.
https://youtu.be/nGIMDTpX0SQ
Shapes of Complexes of Transition Metals
● Transition metals can have any two of four possible complex shape. The
ion complex shape is the orientation of ligands, or molecules that are
attached to the transition metal.
N.B A ligand is a molecule or ion with one or more lone pairs of electrons
available to donate to a transition element ion, e.g. water, ammonia and
chloride ions.
● The shape that a transition metal takes depends on the coordination
number (number of ligands) and the type of ligands bonded to the
element.
● The possible shapes are: square planar, tetrahedral and octahedral.
Shapes of Complexes of Transition Metals Cont.
Square Planar
● The square planar shape forms when the ligands around a metal are all on
the same plane; in other words, it is completely flat.
● This occurs when there are 4 ligands attached to a transition metal with a
d8 electron configuration.
● When there are 4 bonds this means that there are 4 other unpaired
electrons pairs. There are two ligands pointing up and two ligands
pointing down; none are pointing to the sides.
Shapes of Complex of Transition Metals Cont.
Octahedral
● An octahedral shape is usually formed if the ligand atom forming the
bond with the central transition metal ion is relatively small.
● Octahedral complexes can also be formed using three bidentate ligands.
● Each ligand forms two coordinate bonds with the transition element ion.
Shapes of Complexes of Transition Metals Cont.
Tetrahedral
● The tetrahedral complex shape is the most common shape for a transition
metal with 4 ligands. It has one ligand pointing up, one down, and the
other two are pointing front and back.
● This occurs with any transition metal when the attached ligands are large
e.g bromine, chlorine, iodine etc.
● Most transition metals wants to form the octahedral, but large ligands get
into the way of forming this octahedral, so only a tetrahedral with 4
ligands can be formed.
Shapes of Complex of Transition Metal Cont.
Image showing shapes of complex of Transition metal ions.
Redox Systems
Reaction between acidified manganate(VII) ions and iron(III) ions
● This is used to estimate iron (III) ions quantitatively.
● A standard solution of potassium manganate (VII) is added to an iron (II)
solution.
● The manganate ions is decolourized from violet to a very pale pink,
manganate (II) ions.
● The end point is the first permanent pale pink with one drop excess of the
manganate (VII).
● The presence of dilute sulfuric acid prevents the formation of manganese
(IV) oxide precipitate and ensures the manganese(VII) ions are reduced
to manganese(II) ions
Redox System Cont.
The two half equations are:
MnO4-(aq) +8H+(aq) +5e- ⇌ Mn2+(aq) +2H2O(l) E.⦵ = +1.52V
Fe3+(aq) + e- ⇌ Fe2+(aq) E⦵ = +0.77
The overall equation is:
MnO4-(aq) + 8H=(aq) + 5Fe2+(aq) → Mn2+(aq) + 5Fe2+(aq) + 4H2O(l)
Redox System Cont.
Reaction between acidified dichromate(VI) ions and iron(II) ions
● This is also used to estimate ions(II) ions quantitatively.
● A redox indicator is used to detect the end point.
● The indicator changes colour when oxidized to another form, but only
after the iron is oxidized. It is not easily oxidized as Fe2+
● The electrode potential of the indicator is more positive than that of Fe2+
but less than that of the dichromate(VI) ion. Hence, it is oxidised by the
dichromate to show the end.
Redox System Cont.
The two half equations are:
Cr2O72-(aq) + 14H(aq) + 6e- ⇌ 2Cr3+(aq). + 7H2,O(l) E⦵ = +1.33V
Fe3+(aq) + e_ ⇌ Fe2+ (aq) E⦵ = +0.77V
The overall equation is:
Cr2O72-(aq) + 14H+(aq) + 6Fe2+(aq) → 2Cr3+(aq) + 6Fe3+(aq) + 7H2O(l)
Principle of Ligand Exchange
● If there is more than one ligand in a solution, they can compete for a
transition metal cation.
● For example, aqueous ammonia contains two ligands: H2O and NH3. The
better the ligand is at competing for the transition element ion, the more
stable is the complex formed.
● When we add a few drops of concentrated HCl to an aqueous solution of
Cu2+ ions (which contains the complex ions [Cu(H2O)6V2+], the following
equilibrium is set up:
[Cu(H2O)6]2+(aq) + 4Cl (aq) ⇋ [CuCl4]2-(aq) + 6H2O(l)
Blue yellow-green

https://youtu.be/9fOlm6MUELQ
Principle of Ligand Exchange Cont.
● Addition of HCl to the [Cu(H2O)6]2+ complex shifts the position of
equilibrium to the right and so the colour changes from blue to green as
the complex [CuCl4]2-(aq) is formed.
● Addition of water shifts the position of equilibrium to the left.
● The equilibrium constant for this reaction is called the stability constant,
Kstab
● The larger the value of the stability constant, the more stable is the
complex and the more likely the complex will form.
● Ammonia has a higher stability constant than Cl ions. So addition of
ammonia will shift the position of equilibrium to the right and a deep
blue complex ion is formed:
 Principle of Ligand Exchange Cont.
[CuCl4]2-(aq) + 4NH3 +2H2O(l) ⇋ [Cu(NH3)4 (H2O)2]2+(aq) + 4Cl-(aq)
Yellow-green deep blue

● Cobalt(II) ions occur as complexes with water, Cl ions and ammonia. The
ligand exchanges are similar to those of the copper complexes:
[Co(H2O)6]2+(aq) + 4Cl(aq) ⇋ [CoCl4]2-(aq) + 6H2O(l)
Pink blue

[Co(H2O)6]2-(aq) + 6NH3(aq) ⇋ [Co(NH3)6]2+(aq) + 6H2O(l)

Pink yellow
Ligand Exchange in Haem
● The red blood pigment haem is found as a group attached to the protein
haemoglobin in red blood cells
● The molecule has an Fe2+ ion with a coordination number of 6; four are to
nitrogen atoms in a complex ring system, the fifth is with a nitrogen atom in
the protein molecule and the sixth coordination position is with an oxygen
molecule.
● The oxygen molecule is weakly bound and carried to the cells for
respiration.
● Carbon monoxide can also bind to the Fe2+ ion. In fact, it has a stability
constant about 200 times higher than O2.
● Therefore, in the presence of CO, hardly any O2 will bind and respiration is
inhibited and eventually the organism will die.
 1) Define first row transition metals?
2) List the first row transition metals.
3) State some characteristics of first row transition metals.
4) Why transition metals have higher melting points than calcium?
5) Why is there small changes in atomic/ionic radii across the period?
6) How do transition metals form coloured ions?
7) What is a ligand?
8) Complete the sentence. The shape a transition metal take s depends on:
9) What is the equilibrium constant?
10) Explain the Ligand Exchange?
Reference
● Bevan David, ‘Cambridge International AS and A Chemistry Revision
Guide’ London, Hodder Education, 2011, pp 105-109
● Norris Roger, Barrett Leroy, Mayrand-Alleyne Annette, Murray Jennifer,
‘Chemistry Unit 1 Study Guide’ UK, Oxford University Press, 2015, pp
159-166
● Clark Jim, 2020, Introduction to Transition Metals, 2 January 2022,
https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Inorganic_Chemistry/Supplement
al_Modules_and_Websites_(Inorganic_Chemistry)/Descriptive_Chemistr
y/Elements_Organized_by_Block/3_d-Block_Elements/1b_Properties_of_
Transition_Metals/Introduction_to_Transition_Metals_II
● First image from:
https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Periodic-Table-The-first-row-transition-metal-
oxides-are-shown-in-Green_fig19_253821163
● Second image from:
http://derekcarrsavvy-chemist.blogspot.com/2017/05/transition-metals-some-vanad
ium.html