INTRODUCTION TO CHEMISTRY OF TRANSITION METAL

s- block p- block elements

d- block elements

f- block elements

Transition metals belong to d-block elements which are in-between the s-block and p-block
elements. They are basically in three rows representing the first, second and third transition
series. They are referred to as d-bock because they have partially or incompletely filled d-orbital
electrons and most of their characteristic properties are largely attributed to this.

The following shows distribution of electrons in the first transition series [1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6]

Sc-21 Ti - 22 V - 23 Cr - 24 Mn - 25 Fe - 26 Co - 27 Ni - 28 Cu - 29 Zn – 30
3d1 4s2 3d2 4s2 3d3 4s2 3d5 4s1 3d5 4s2 3d6 4s2 3d7 4s2 3d8 4s2 3d10 4s1 3d10 4s2

Generally the transition elements are characterized by the filling outer s-orbital before the
penultimate d- orbital but the pattern of orbital filling changes at chromium ie [..3d5d1] instead
of [..3d44s2] and copper [..3d104s1] instead of [..3d104s1]. this is because of the quantum effect
which is more pronounced and give rise to what is called exchange energy. Zinc is not transition
in character going by distribution of electron in which it has fully filled d-orbital. Copper also has
fully filled d-orbital but it is transition as Cu2+ ion where the d-orbital become partly filled
[3d94s0].

Characteristic Features of Transition metals

 Outer electron structure involving reactions are in the penultimate d-orbitals. This may
account for the reason why they have close range of ionization energy and metallic
radius.
 Form alloys with each due to similarity in their metallic radii
 Variable oxidation state
 Catalytic ability
 Coloured compounds /ions
 Formation of complex ions
 Paramagnetic compounds
Variable oxidation state

Unlike elements in s-block and p-block, most transition metal can exist in 2 or more oxidation
state ie variable valency with manganese exhibiting highest oxidation states. This may be
attributed to partially filled d-orbital electrons available for reaction (combining power)

Catalytic ability of Transition metals

Most transition metal catalytic ability because their partially filled d-orbital provides site or space
for the redistribution of electron so that reactions can proceed better. They can bond with wide
range of ions or molecules with lone pairs or pie electrons and show ability to form different
number of bonds

Coloured ions/compounds

Transition metal ions and compounds are coloured because visible light has just right amount of
energy to excite an electron from the lower set of d-orbital to the higher set. For example Nickel
ion salt in solution is green because it absorb in the blue region of the spectrum which to the
splitting of electron in the d-orbital

dz2 dx2- y2 dxy dxz dyz

Energy

E = hγ
where γ corresponds to
the frequency of blue light

Paramagnetism

A paramagnetic substance is a substance that will be attracted to a magnetic field when brought
close into the field. Many transition metal compounds are paramagnetic because of the
magnetic field associated with the spin of an unpaired electron in their d-orbitals can give rise to
paramagnetism.

NB: With paired electron in orbital, spin become paired and this can cancelled out a magnetic
field
Complex ion formation

Transition metal ions form complexes ions or coordination complexes because they have empty
valence-shell orbital that can accept pairs of electron from lewis base.

Ligands must therefore be lewis base, which are the ions or molecules that bind to the transition
metal and must contain at least one pair of nonbonding electrons that can be donated to the
metal ion. The number of ligands bound to the central transition metal ion is called the
coordination number of the complex. Notable ligands are: Cl-, CN-, NO2-, NH3, H2O,

1. FeCl4- [tetrachloro iron (iii) ion

-
Cl Cl

Fe
Cl Cl
Fe3+ -(23) 1s2,2s2,2p6,3s2,3p63d5,4s0 4p0

2. Co(NH3)63+ [hexaamine cobalt (iii) ion

3+
NH3 NH3

NH3 NH3
Co
NH3 NH3
Co3+ -(24) 1s2,2s2,2p6,3s2,3p63d6,4s0 4p0