Transition element note for class X chemistry

Filling up orbitals according to Aufbau’s principle

-According to this principle, the electrons are filled up in the increasing order of their energy orbitals.
-The orbitals of lower energy are filled up first followed by higher energy orbitals.
-The order of filling up orbitals with Aufbau’s principle is: 1s,2s,2p,3s,3p,4s,3d,4p,5s,4d,5p,6s,5d,6p,7s,5f,6d,7p,8s, etc.
Position of elements in periodic table
The classification of elements is based upon the name of orbital where the last electron enters.
S-block: Last electron enter s-orbital. Eg. Elements of group 1 & 2 in the periodic table including He.
P-block: Last electron enter p-orbital. Eg. Elements of group 13 & 18 in the periodic table except He.
d-block: Last electron enter d-orbital. Eg. Elements of group 3 & 12 in the periodic table.
f-block: Last electron enter f-orbital. Eg. Elements of group inner transition elements (Lanthanide and actinide series) in
the periodic table.
Exception of elements which do not follow Aufbau’s principle
-Few elements in d-block that do not follow Aufbau’s principle are: Cr, Cu, Nb, Mo, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Pt, Au.
-The electrons in d orbital takes an extra electron from the s orbital, except in palladium where both electrons are
consumed by the d orbital.
Element`` Aufbau’s prediction Experimental observed
Cr24 1s2,2s2,2p6,3s2,3p6,4s2,3d4 1s2,2s2,2p6,3s2,3p6,4s1,3d5
Cu29 1s2,2s2,2p6,3s2,3p6,4s2,3d9 1s2,2s2,2p6,3s2,3p6,4s1,3d10
Ag47 1s2,2s2,2p6,3s2,3p6,4s2,3d10, 4p6,5s2,4d9 1s2,2s2,2p6,3s2,3p6,4s2,3d10, 4p6,5s1,4d10

Transition elements/metals
-According to IUPAC, a transition element are those elements whose atom or ion (in oxidation state) has an incompletely
filled d-orbital.
-Most of the elements in d-block are transition elements but with few exceptions.
Example:
1) Zinc
d-orbital is completely filled in its
Zn30:1s2,2s2,2p6,3s2,3p6,4s2,3d10
ground state as well as in ionic state,
Zn2+: Zn30:1s2,2s2,2p6,3s2,3p6,3d10
thus is not a transition element.
2) Scandium
Sc21 :1s2,2s2,2p6,3s2,3p6, 4s2,3d1 When it forms ions, it loses 3 electrons and has no electrons in d-orbital,
Sc3+ :1s2,2s2,2p6,3s2,3p6 thus is not a transition element.

By contrast, Copper is a transition element even though in its ground state it has completely filled d-orbital.
It is due to the formation of copper ions (i.e Cu+ and Cu2+).
Ground state: Cu29:1s2,2s2,2p6,3s2,3p6,4s1,3d10
Oxidation state:
Cu+ :1s2,2s2,2p6,3s2,3p6,3d10 Not a common ionic state
2+ 2 2 6 2 6 9
Cu :1s ,2s ,2p ,3s ,3p ,3d Is a common ionic state, which has incompletely filled d-orbital. Thus, is
considered as a transition element.

Characteristics of TRANSITION ELEMENT

1. Metallic character
Transition metals, have giant metallic structure
• This structure allows valence electrons to move freely, and the electrons are
delocalized, forming a “sea of electrons”
• Good conductor of heat and electricity. (The free electrons can carry
electrical charge or thermal energy throughout the metal).
• Are ductile and malleable (can be drawn into wires and beaten into sheets).
• Form alloys (mixture of two or more metals).
• Form both metallic and covalent bond (due to presence of unfilled d-orbital)
2. High melting and boiling point
• Strong forces hold the atoms together in transition elements.
• More thermal/heat energy is required to weaken or break the strong forces of attraction.
• Transition element usually melt above 1000 oC except Zn, Cd, Hg as they have completely filled d-orbitals.
3. Form coloured compounds
• A substance will appear coloured if it absorbs light from a
portion of the visible spectrum.
• This is due to incompletely filled d-orbital, it is possible
to promote electrons from low energy level to higher
energy levels and during this process radiation emitted are
absorbed as colours.
• Ions with completely filled d-orbital or no electrons in d-
orbital are colourless.
Eg, Zn, Cu+, Sc3+, Ti4+.
• Many naturally occurring minerals like gem stone appear coloured due to presence
of traces of transition metal ions or compounds.
4. Atomic size and densities
-Atomic size decreases as you go left to right because of increase in the nuclear
charge.
-Transition elements have smaller size than s-block elements but bigger than p-block
elements.
-Atomic density also increase as atomic size decreases and mass increases across the
period.
5. Ionization potential
-It is the energy required to remove the electron from its valence shell.
-Ionization energy ___________across the period, so transition element will have more ionization energy than ____ block
and less than ____ block elements.
-Transition metals are also more electronegative than s-block elements.
6. Reactivity of transition element
Transition metals also react with mineral acids (HCl, H2SO4, HNO3, etc) to give metal salt and hydrogen gas.
-Transition metals like Au, Pt have low reactivity due to high melting point, boiling point and ionization energy.
Eg: Metal + Acid → Metal salt + Hydrogen gas
Fe + 2HCl → FeCl + H
2 2
What is aqua regia and which metals can it dissolve?
7. Magnetic properties
Most of the transition metals usually show paramagnetic properties due to the
presence of more than one unpaired electron. Paramagnetic property increases
as number of unpaired electrons increases.

Paramagnetic substances Ferromagnetic Diamagnetic

substances substances
-Those substances which -Those paramagnetic -Those substances
acquire magnetic property substances which which are repelled by
in presence of magnetic retain its magnetic the magnetic field.
field but loses its property property even when -It contains only paired
once the magnetic field is the magnetic field is electrons.
removed. removed.
-Has more than one
unpaired electrons.
Eg. Pt, Cr, Mn Eg. Fe, Ni, Co Eg. Zn, Cd, Cu
8. Variable oxidation state (Valency)
Most of 3d-block elements exihibit variable (many/different)
oxidation state because the core/kernel after losing one
electron tends to lose more electron until it becomes stable.
9. Catalytic properties
• A catalyst is a chemical substance that alters the rate of a
chemical reaction. (Usually increase)
• Vacant d-orbital favors the ability to adsorb and activate the
reacting substances.
• The ability to interchange between the oxidation states
makes it a good source for electrons to activate another
substance.
Eg. Pt, Ni, Fe, Cr, MnO2, V2O5, etc.

Example:
1. Haber process: 3. Hydrogenation of alkenes:
2. Contact process:

10. Complex ion formation (coordination compound)

Complex ion is an ion comprising of one or more ligands attached to central metal ion by coordinate bond.
Ligand: It is a species which can use its lone pair of electrons to form a coordinate bond with transition metal.
Eg. NH3, H2O, Cl-, OH-, CN-, etc.
Coordination number: It is the number of coordinate bonds formed by central metal ion with ligands.

2+

Formation of coordination compound is favored by:

1. High charge density
2. Vacant d-orbital to accept lone pair of electrons from ligands.
Identify the central metal ion, type of ligands and coordination number of: 1) [Cu(NH3)4(H2O)2]2+ 2) [CoCl4]2-

Revision question
1.Give reasons:
i) Transition element form both metallic and ionic bonds.
ii) Zn, Hg and Cd have melting point below 1000 oC.
2. Dema wore a ring having a red coloured ruby. It is said to contain chromium ions. Explain the reason for having
coloured ion of transition element.
3. Atomic size of transition element is _________ than group 1 &2.
4. Ionization potential of transition element lies between _______ and __________ block elements in periodic table.
5. Zn + HCl → ______________
6. Dorji applied a magnetic field on a metal X, and upon removal it still behaved as a magnet. What type of magnetic
substance is it?
7. What type of magnetic substance does most transition element belong to and why? Give two examples.
8. Cr show oxidation state of +1,+2,+3,+4,+5,+6,+7. What is the reason for this?
9. Name the catalyst and product formed during i) Haber process ii) Contact process and iii) Hydrogenation of alkenes.