Narrabundah College

Transition Metals
The Transition Metals, d-block elements, in particular the first row, contain metals which have
similar properties and characteristic features.

Most patterns can be explained by consideration of the electrons in the outer shells or energy
levels.

The IUPAC definition defines a transition metal as "an element whose atom has a partially
filled d sub-shell, or which can give rise to cations with an incomplete d sub-shell".

We will look at the first row of the transition metals.

Transition Metals
The electron configuration for the first row of the transition metals is [Ar] 4 s0–2 3d1–10

The 4s orbital fills first, as it is lower in energy than the 3d. Electrons fill into the 3d orbitals singly

first, and then form pairs. There are two exceptions to the filling rule, Cr and Cu, as the electron

configuration they attain is more energetically favourable, with either a half-filled shell or a full

shell.

Element Sc Ti V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni Cu Zn

Atomic number 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Group 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Electron
4s23d1 4s23d2 4s23d3 4s13d5 4s23d5 4s23d6 4s23d6 4s23d8 4s13d10 4s23d10
configuration
Transition Metals
The Aufbau boxes showing electron configuration for the first row of the transition metals.
 Transition Metals
The chemical and physical properties of the transition metals are closely linked to the presence of ns
electrons outside the (n − 1)d orbitals; although transition metals have different numbers of d electrons,
they all have either 1 or 2 ns electrons in the valence shell.

As a result, transition metals show great similarity in physical and chemical properties.

Unlike the main-group elements, the properties do not differ greatly when moving between groups. In
general, most transition metals

● are found in multiple oxidation states;

● form highly coloured compounds;

● have high melting points (with the exception of mercury, a liquid at room temperature);

● are highly conductive;

● have a silvery, metallic appearance (with the exception of copper and gold) and

● are ductile (able to be drawn into a wire) and malleable (able to be hammered into thin sheets).
Transition Metals
Sc Ti V Cr Mn

Fe Co Ni Cu Zn
Transition Metals
When transition elements form positive ions, they lose electrons from the 4s orbital first as it is
further from the nucleus; these are the first electrons to interact with other substances. Then
electrons are lost from the 3d orbitals.

Transition metals can often form ions with different charges, or form compounds with other
substances, so that they have multiple oxidation states.

eg Electron configuration for Fe, Fe2+ and Fe3+

Fe [Ar] 4s2 3d6

Fe2+ [Ar] 4s0 3d6 or Fe2+ [Ar] 3d6

Fe3+ [Ar] 4s0 3d5 or Fe3+ [Ar] 3d5

Transition Metals
The oxidation state is defined as the apparent charge on an atom within a compound.
The common oxidation state for the transition metals is +2, since most readily lose the 4s
electrons, and all have other oxidation states.
Even though in many cases the systems are not ionic, it is possible to designate oxidation states
to atoms in covalent systems as if they were ionic.
Multiple oxidation states of the d-block (transition metal) elements are due to the proximity of the
4s and 3d sub shells (in terms of energy).
The common transition metal oxidation states (Sc and Zn included for comparison)

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
+6 +6 +6
+7
Transition Metals
This pattern of oxidation states is repeated for second row and third row of the transition metals.
There is an increasing tendency toward higher oxidation states among heavier transition
elements in the same group:
Fe (2,3) Ru (2,3,4,6,8), Ni (2,3) Pd (2,4)
Transition Metals
Coordination Compounds:
Transition metals form compounds with multiple Lewis bases, called ligands.

A coordination compound consists of

• a metal ion

• one or more ligands (from the Latin: to tie or bond)

• and, if necessary, counter ions that balance the charge of the complex

The bond between the metal ion and the ligand is a coordinate bond, both the electrons for the
bond are supplied by the ligand. Square brackets are used to enclose the formula of the complex
ion or compound. If there are counter ions they form an ionic bond with the complex.

For example, the coordination compound

[Co(NH3)6]Cl3 contains a complex ion, [Co(NH3)6]3+, and chloride (Cl−) counter ions.
Transition Metals
Coordination Compounds:

Ligands are classified by the number of attachments they form to a central metal atom/ion.

Monodentate ligands have one attachment point to a metal.

Monodentate comes from “mono” for one and “dentate” comes from toothed.

Multidentate ligands have more than one attachment point and are called chelating (claw) ligands.

Naming Coordination Compounds:

These are named according to a set of rules.

1. If the coordinate compound contains a complex ion and a counter ion, name the cation first, followed by
the anion name.

2. In the name of the complex ion or neutral coordination compound, name the ligands first,
alphabetically, and then the transition metal, indicating its oxidation state with Roman numerals.

[Co(NH3)6]3+ is named hexaamminecobalt(III) ion.

Transition Metals
3. Ligands names:
a. Name the ligands in alphabetical order. When using prefixes, do not alphabetise the prefix—alphabetise
only the names of the ligands.

b. If there is more than one of a particular ligand, use a prefix to indicate the number of that ligand.
Monodentate ligands use the prefixes di-, tri-, tetra-, penta-, and hexa to indicate 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 ligands
respectively.

c. If the ligand is an anion, change the ion name to end in –o, chloride ion to chlorido

d. If the ligand is neutral, name it using its common name. There are some exceptions to this rule, such as
water, called aqua and ammonia, called ammine.

4. If the whole complex ion is an anion (carries a negative charge), the suffix -ate is added to the metal name.

a. If the metal is Fe, Cu, Ag, or Au, use the Latin name:

Fe ferrate Cu cuprate Ag argentate Au aurate

5. The charge on the metal is added after its name, in parentheses and in Roman numerals.

[Co(NH3)6]3+ hexaamminecobalt(III) ion

Transition Metals
Ligands names:
Names of some common monodentate ligands

Neutral Ligands Anionic Ligands

NH3 ammine F- fluorido OH- hydroxido

H2O aqua Cl- chlorido SCN- thiocyanato

CO carbonyl Br- bromido S2 O 3 2 - thiosulphato

NO nitrosyl I- iodido

CN- cyanido

CO32- carbonato

SO42- sulphato

NO2- nitro

ONO- nitrito
Transition
eg
Metals
case 1

K4[Mn(CN)6]

counter ions K+ , four of those, so complex ion charge 4- ,

[Mn(CN)6]4- hexacyanidomanganate (II) ion

When named as the salt, it gives potassium hexacyanidomanganate(II)

case 2

[V(H2O)6](NO3)3

counterions NO3- , three of those so complex ion charge 3+ ,

[V(H2O)6]3+ hexaaquavanadium (III) ion

When named as the salt, it gives hexaaquavanadium (III) nitrate