D & F BLOCK

1 Zn2* salts are white while Ni2* salts are green. Explain.

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2 Transition metals show paramagnetic character. Explain.

/// Paramagnetic arises due to the presence of unpaired electrons. Each such electrons has
a magnetic moment associated with it due to its spin angular momentum. Transition metals
have in its ground state or ionised state have number of unpaired d-electrons which gives it
a paramagnetic behaviour.

3 Mn shows max paramagnetic character. Explain with the help of configuration.

///Paramagnetic character depend on the unpaired electron. The electronic configuration of
Mn(II) ion (at. no. of Mn25) is
1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d5 4s0
It has five unpaired electrons in its d-orbitals which is maximum value for a transition metal
ion. The paramagnetic character is due to presence of unpaired electron.

4 Transition metals and their compounds are good catalysts. Explain.

///Transition metals and their compounds function as catalysts either because of their ability
to change oxidation state or, in the case of the metals, to adsorb other substances on to their
surface and activate them in the process.

5 Draw structures of MnO: and (Cr207)-2.

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6 Transition metals have a tendency to form complexes. Why?

///The reason transition elements form complexes because they contain vacant d-orbitals ,so
that they can accommodate electrons of other elements and form bonds. Transition
elements have variable oxidation state like from +2 to +6 which, shows its capacity to form
bonds.

7 What are transition elements? Which of the transition elements are not regarded as
transition elements & why?

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8 What is lanthanide contraction? What is its cause? What are its consequences?
///Lanthanide contraction The overall decrease in atomic and ionic radii from lanthanum to
lutetium , due to the imperfect shielding one electron by another in the same subshell , is
known as lanthanide contraction . The decrease in atomic radii is not quite regular as it is
regular in M3+ ions .
Consequences
(a) Similar physical and chemical properties among lanthanide .
(b) Elements of second and third d- series exhibit similar radii (e.g . Zr -160 pm , Hf - 159
pm) and have very similar physical and chemical properties

9 Transition elements form alloys. Explain.

///Transition metals have very similar atomic sizes. One metal can easily replace the other
metal from its lattice to form solid solution (alloy). Transition metals are miscible with one
another in the molten state. The molten state solution of two or more transition metals on
cooling forms alloy.

10 Transition elements have high m.pts & b.pts. Explain.

///The high melting and boiling points of d-block metals are attributed to the involvement of
greater number of electrons from (n-1)d in addition to the ns electrons in the interatomic
metallic bonding. In any row the melting points of these metals rise to a maximum at d^5
except for anomalous values of Mn and Tc and fall regularly as the atomic number
increases.

11 Transition elements exhibit variable oxidation states. Why?

///These elements show variable oxidation states because their valence electrons are in two
different sets of orbitals, that is (n-1)d and ns. The energy difference between these orbitals
is very less, so both the energy levels can be used for bond formation. Thus, transition
elements have variable oxidation states.