Some Important Compounds of Transition Elements
Potassium dichromate K2Cr2O7
1] Describe the preparation of potassium dichromate from iron chromite ore.
What is the effect of increasing pH on a solution of potassium dichromate?
Ans]: Step-1The fusion of chromite ore (FeCr2O4) with sodium or potassium carbonate in free
excess of air.
Sodium Chromate obtained
Step-2
The yellow solution of sodium chromate is filtered and acidified with sulphuric acid to give a solution
from which orange sodium dichromate [Na2Cr207]
Step-3
Sodium dichromate is treated with potassium chloride to prepare K2Cr2O7
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2]What is the effect of PH on dichromate solution?
Or
Orange colour of dichromate ion changes to yellow in alkaline medium
Ans]In acidic medium yellow chromate solution CrO4 2- changes to orange dichromate
solution Cr2O72-
In basic medium orange dichromate soln changes to chromate
Note: K2Cr2O7 is a very good oxidizing agent in acidic medium.
Que] Describe the oxidising action of potassium dichromate and write the ionic equations for
its reaction with:
(i)iodide ion (ii)iron (II) solution ,Fe2+ (iii)H2S (iv)Sn 2+
Pg 2
Following equations show oxidizing action of K2Cr2O7
Ans] I- is oxidized to I2
Fe2+ is oxidised to Fe3+
H2S is oxidized to S
Sn 2+ is oxidized to Sn 4+
Cr2O72- + 3Sn 2+ + 14H+ 2Cr3+ + 3Sn4+ + 7H2O
Potassium permanganate,KMnO4
Que] Hydrochloric acid is not used in permanganometric Titrations. Why?
Ans] KMnO4 is an oxidizing agent. HCl will get oxidized to Cl2
Que] Explain preparation of KMnO4 from Pyrolusite ore [MnO2]
Ans] MnO2 is treated with KOH in presence of O2 or KNO3.
Dark green coloured K2MnO4 produced
It undergoes disproportionation in acidic or neutral medium to give KMnO4
2MnO2 + 4KOH + O2 2K2MnO4 + 2H2O
Dark green
3MnO4 2- + 4H+ 2MnO4 - + MnO2 + 2H2O
Que]KmO4 is unstable to heatExplain
Ans] When heated at 513K, it decomposes to K2MnO4
2KMnO4 K2MnO4 + MnO2+O2
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Que] What happens when Mn2+ ion is treated with peroxodisulphate?
It oxidises to permanganate ion
2Mn2+ + 5S2O8 2- + 8H2O 2MnO4- + 10 SO4 2- +16 H+
KMnO4 is a good oxidizing agent in acidic, neutral and faintly alkaline medium
In acidic medium KMnO4 changes to Mn2+
In Neutral or faintly alkaline solutions KMnO4 changes to MnO 2
Pg 4
Oxidation reaction in acidic medium
Oxidation reactions in neutral or faintly alkaline solution
F Block elements Lanthanoids [4f series] & Actinoids [5f series]
Symbol Ln is used to represent Lanthanoids Pg 5
1]Lanthanoids -4f series-Outer electronic configuration
2]Atomic radii- Lanthanoids
Lanthanoid contraction: The overall decrease in atomic and ionic radii from lanthanum to lutetium is a
unique feature of chemistry of Lanthanoids .
LANTHANOID CONTRACTION
Filling of 4 f orbitals before 5 d results in a regular decrease of atomic size in 5 d series
Consequences:
1.Second and third transition series have similar atomic radii
2.The above elements occur together and separation becomes difficult
3]Oxidation states Lanthanoids
Stable oxidation state for lanthanoids is +3
Also shows +2 and +4 that correcpond to halffilled f orbital ,fully filled f orbital, noble gas
configuration
Eu2+ :[Xe]4f7 Half filled and stable Ce4+:[Xe] Noble gas configuration
Yb2+: [Xe]4f14 fully filled stable
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4]Colour- Lanthanoids
Many trivalent lanthanoid ions are colored both in the solid state and in aqueous solutions. Colour of
these ions may be attributed to the presence of unpaired
f electrons. Neither La3+ nor Lu3+ ion shows any colour but the rest do so. However, absorption bands
are narrow, probably because of the excitation within f level.
Lanthanoid compounds are coloured due to the presence of unpaired electrons in the f orbitals
5]Magnetic nature Lanthanoids
Lanthanoid compounds show magnetic nature due to the presence of unpaired electrons in
f orbitals
Que]Calculate magnetic moment of Ce3+ ion
58Ce: [Xe] 4f1 5d1 6s2 Ce3+: [Xe] 4f1
One unpaired electron
= 1.73 BM
6]Applications & Reactions of Lanthanoids
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PREPARATION OF MISCH METALL –USE OF LANTHANOID ALLOY
A well known alloy is mischmetall which consists of a lanthanoid metal (~ 95%) and iron (~ 5%) and
traces of S, C, Ca and Al. A good deal of mischmetal is used in Mg-based alloy to produce bullets, shell
and lighter flint
ACTINOIDS
ACTINOIDS -5F SERIES-INNER TRANSITION ELEMENTS
• Valence electrons are filled in 5 f orbitals
• Shows large number of oxidation states due to comparable energies of 5f,6d,7s
• Radioactive and short half life. Hence their study is difficult.
• Actinoid contraction is greater than lanthanoid contraction due to poor shielding effect of 5f
electrons
IMPORTANT QUESTIONS
1]Why Lanthanoids cannot be easily separated?
2]Name the member of Lanthanoid series which is well known to show +4 oxidation state
Cerium
3)Calculate magnetic moment of Ce 3+
One unpaired electron μ = √n(n+2) =√1x3 =√3 = 1.73 BM
4]An alloy consisting of approximately 95% lanthanoid metal used to prepare bullet, shell and lighter
flint
Misch metal
5]Eu2+ is a strong reducing agent. Why?
It oxidises to stable Eu 3+
6]Ce4+ is a strong oxidising agent. Why?
It reduces to stable Ce3+
7]What happens when Lanthanoid is heated with Sulphur?
Ln2S3
8]Chemistry of actinoids is complicated than lanthanoids, give two reasons
1)Multiple oxdn states
2)Radioactive
9]Study of actinoids is difficult Why?
1)Multiple oxdn states 2)Radioactive
