Trends within the Periodic Table: Transition Metals

Group: Transition Metals

General Properties

  • Found between Groups 2 and 3 on the Periodic Table.
  • Typically hard and dense metals, with high melting and boiling points.
  • They all have two or more electrons in their outer shell.
  • Conduct heat and electricity well due to their delocalised electrons.

Physical Properties

  • They form coloured compounds, which can be used in things like gem stones and pigments.
  • Transition metals and their compounds are often good catalysts.
  • Most transition metals are less reactive than elements in Groups 1 and 2.
  • Have high melting points and densities due to strong metallic bonding.

Chemical Properties

  • They form positive ions with various charges.
  • They can have different ionic charges because they can lose different numbers of electrons.
  • Able to form complex ions with other ions or molecules.

Examples of Transition Metals

  • Iron (Fe), Cobalt (Co), Nickel (Ni), Copper (Cu) and Zinc (Zn).

Uses of Transition Metals

  • Many transition metals have important uses. For instance:
    • Iron is used in construction and manufacturing.
    • Copper is used in electrical wiring.
    • Nickel is used in batteries.

Reactions of Transition Metals

  • These metals can form compounds in different oxidation states, this is due to the transition metal ions losing different numbers of electrons.
  • When transition metals react with other substances, they often form complex ions.
  • They often act as catalysts due to their ability to form intermediate compounds with other substances and then being regenerated in the process.