A2

TRANSITION ELEMENTS

Q1 (a) (i) What is meant by the term ligand in the context of transition element chemistry?
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
(ii) Decide which of the following species could be a ligand, and which could not be.
Place a tick () in the appropriate column.

(b) Read the following description of some reactions of copper(II) sulfate, and answer the
questions that follow.

(i) Suggest the formula of the compound contained in each of the following.
solution C ..................................................................................................................................
solid D .......................................................................................................................................
solution E ..................................................................................................................................
white precipitate F .....................................................................................................................
(ii) Name the type of reaction that is occurring when D reacts with HNO3(aq).
...................................................................................................................................................
(c) (i) Describe what you would observe when a solid sample of anhydrous Cu(NO3)2 is
strongly heated.
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
(ii) Write an equation for this reaction.
...................................................................................................................................................
(Nov 2010 P42)

ZAHID IQBAL WARRAICH

0333-4200541

A2

TRANSITION ELEMENTS

Q2 (a) Complete the following electronic configuration of the Cu2+ ion.

1s2 2s2 2p6 ..................................................................................................................................
(b) In a free, gas-phase transition metal ion, the d-orbitals all have the same energy, but
when the ion is in a complex the orbitals are split into two energy levels.
(i) Explain why this happens.
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
(ii) How does this splitting help to explain why transition metal complexes are often
coloured?
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
(iii) Why does the colour of a transition metal complex depend on the nature of the ligands
surrounding the transition metal ion?
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
(c) Draw a fully-labelled diagram of the apparatus you could use to measure the E o of a cell
composed of the Fe3+/Fe2+ electrode and the Cu2+/Cu electrode.

(d) The E o for Cu2+/Cu is +0.34 V. When NH3(aq) is added to the electrode solution, the
Eelectrode changes.
(i) Describe the type of reaction taking place between Cu2+(aq) and NH3(aq).
...................................................................................................................................................
(ii) Write an equation for the reaction.
...................................................................................................................................................
(iii) Describe the change in the colour of the solution.
...................................................................................................................................................
(iv) Predict and explain how the Eelectrode might change on the addition of NH3(aq).
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................

ZAHID IQBAL WARRAICH

0333-4200541

A2

TRANSITION ELEMENTS

(e) Fehlings reagent is an alkaline solution of Cu2+ ions complexed with tartrate ions. It is
used in organic chemistry to test for a particular functional group.
(i) Name the functional group involved.
...................................................................................................................................................
(ii) Describe the appearance of a positive result in this test.
...................................................................................................................................................
(iii) Write an equation for the reaction between Cu2+ and OH ions and a two-carbon
compound containing the functional group you named in (i).
...................................................................................................................................................
(f) A solution containing a mixture of tartaric acid and its sodium salt is used as a buffer in
some pre-prepared food dishes.
Calculate the pH of a solution containing 0.50 mol dm3 of tartaric acid and 0.80 mol dm3
sodium tartrate.
[Ka(tartaric acid) = 9.3 104 mol dm3]

(Nov 2012 P43)

Q3 (a) On the following diagram draw a clear labelled sketch to describe the shape and
symmetry of a typical d-orbital.

(b) Although the five d-orbitals are at the same energy in an isolated atom, when a transition
element ion is in an octahedral complex the orbitals are split into two groups.
(i) Draw an orbital energy diagram to show this, indicating the number of orbitals in
each group.

ZAHID IQBAL WARRAICH

0333-4200541

A2

TRANSITION ELEMENTS

(ii) Use your diagram as an aid in explaining the following.

Transition element complexes are often coloured.
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
The colour of a complex of a given transition element often changes when the
ligands around it are changed.
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
(c) Heating a solution containing potassium ethanedioate, iron(II) ethanedioate and
hydrogen peroxide produces the light green complex K3Fe(C2O4)3, which contains the
ion [Fe(C2O4)3]3. The structure of the ethanedioate ion is as follows.

(i) Calculate the oxidation number of carbon in this ion. ...........................................................

(ii) Calculate the oxidation number of iron in [Fe(C2O4)3]3. .....................................................
(iii) The iron atom in the [Fe(C2O4)3]3 ion is surrounded octahedrally by six oxygen atoms.
Complete the following displayed formula of this ion.

(iv) In sunlight the complex decomposes into potassium ethanedioate, iron(II) ethanedioate
and carbon dioxide. Use oxidation numbers to help you balance the following equation for
this decomposition.

(Nov 2011 P42)

ZAHID IQBAL WARRAICH

0333-4200541

A2

TRANSITION ELEMENTS

Q4 (a) Explain why complexes of transition elements are often coloured.

...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
(b) When water is added to white anhydrous CuSO4, the solid dissolves to give a blue
solution. The solution changes to a yellow-green colour when concentrated NH4Cl (aq) is
added to it. Concentrating the solution produces green crystals of an ammonium salt with the
empirical formula CuN2H8Cl4. Explain these observations, showing your reasoning.
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................

(Nov 2010 P43)

ZAHID IQBAL WARRAICH

0333-4200541

A2

TRANSITION ELEMENTS

Q5 (a) Complete the electronic structures of the Cr3+ and Mn2+ ions.
Cr3+ 1s22s22p6 ...........................................

Mn2+ 1s22s22p6 .......................................

(b) (i) Describe what observations you would make when dilute KMnO4(aq) is added slowly
and with shaking to an acidified solution of FeSO4(aq) until the KMnO4 is in a large excess.
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
(ii) Construct an ionic equation for the reaction that occurs.
...................................................................................................................................................
(c) By selecting relevant E o data from the Data Booklet explain why acidified solutions of
Fe2+(aq) are relatively stable to oxidation by air, whereas a freshly prepared precipitate
of Fe(OH)2 is readily oxidised to Fe(OH)3 under alkaline conditions.
relevant E o values and half equations
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
explanation
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
(June 2010 P42)

ZAHID IQBAL WARRAICH

0333-4200541