Exercise on An Introduction to Transition Elements

1. (a) Identify the shells, sub-shells and orbitals that are found in a copper atom.

(b) Write the electronic configuration of scandium ion(Sc+) , copper atom, copper ion (Cu+),
copper (Cu2+), and zinc ion(Zn2+) .

Transition element is one which forms some compounds in which there is an incomplete sub-
shell of d electrons. That is, a transition element forms at least one ion with a partially-filled d-
subshell.

(c) Based on the above definition, explain why copper is a transition element whereas zinc is
not.

(d)(i)What is the order of the increasing energy of the orbitals in the atom of titanium.

(ii) Which orbital has the highest energy level in titanium?

(iii) Write down the complete electronic configuration of titanium

The diagram below represents an incomplete energy levels of the orbitals for titanium atom.

(e (i) The difference in energy for the first ionization energy of scandium(632 kJ mol-1) and
) calcium (590 kJ mol-1)is small. What would you say about the energy difference of the
two orbital.

(ii) Complete and label the energy levels to indicate the principal quantum number and the
type of orbital at each energy level for titanium atom.

(iii)Filled up each orbital with suitable number of electrons for titanium atom.(Use half-arrow
to indicate an electron)

(iv) Which electron is more likely to be removed first in titanium atom.

63 65
2. Copper consists of two isotopes, Cu and Cu.

Complete the table below.

isotope Number of protons Number of Number of

 neutrons electrons
63
Cu
65
Cu

63
(b) The relative abundance of the two isotopes of copper in a sample are 69.1% of Cu and
30.9 of 65Cu.

Calculate the relative atomic mass of copper in the sample.

(c) (i) Describe with the aid of a diagram the lattice structure of copper.

(ii) Use your diagram to interpret and explain two physical properties of copper.

(d) State three uses of copper or its alloys in everyday life.

3. (a) The solution resulting from dissolving the copper from a small printed-circuit board was acidified and
titrated with 0.0200 mol dm–3 KMnO4. A volume of 75.0 cm3 was required for the end point.
The equation for the titration reaction is as follows.

Calculate
(i) the number of moles of Fe2+ in the solution,
(ii) the mass of copper that had dissolved from the printed-circuit board.

(b) An important ore of iron is siderite, iron(II) carbonate. The first step in converting it into iron is to heat it in
air. When heated in air, both calcium carbonate and iron(II) carbonate decompose, but in different ways.
(i) Write an equation to represent the thermal decomposition of calcium carbonate.

(ii) When siderite is heated in air, carbon dioxide is evolved and iron(III) oxide, Fe2O3, is left. Construct an
equation for this reaction.

(iii) Calculate how much iron(III) oxide can be obtained by heating 10 tonnes of siderite.

(c)By using iron and its compounds as examples, outline the different modes of action of homogeneous and
heterogeneous catalysis.
Choose two examples, and for each example you should
• state what the catalyst is, and whether it is acting as a homogeneous or a
heterogeneous catalyst,
• write a balanced equation for the reaction.

4. (a) A transition element X has the electronic configuration [Ar] 4s2 3d3.
(i) Predict its likely oxidation states.
(ii) State the electronic configuration of the ion X3+.

(b) Potassium manganate(VII), KMnO4, is a useful oxidising agent in titrimetric analysis.

(i) Describe how you could use a 0.0200moldm–3 solution of KMnO4 to determine accurately the [Fe2+] in a
solution. Include in your description how you would recognise the end-point in the titration, and write an
equation for the titration reaction.
(ii) A 2.00 g sample of iron ore was dissolved in dilute H2SO4 and all the iron in the salts produced was
reduced to Fe2+(aq). The solution was made up to a total volume of 100 cm3.
A 25.0 cm3 portion of the solution required 14.0 cm3 of 0.0200moldm–3 KMnO4 to
reach the end-point. Calculate the percentage of iron in the ore.