CHAPTER 13 TRANSITION ELEMENTS

13.1 PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF FIRST ROW TRANSITION ELEMENTS

1. ELECTRONIC CONFIGURATION

- d block elements

- outermost shell of 4s will be filled first before filled the 3d subshells

a. Sandium (Sc) Proton number = 21

spdf configuration orbital configuration Structure

b. Vanadium (V) Proton number = 23

spdf configuration orbital configuration Structure

c. Manganese (Mn) Proton number = 25

spdf configuration orbital configuration Structure

d.Nickel (Ni) Proton number = 28

spdf configuration orbital configuration Structure

e. Zinc (Zn) Proton number = 30

spdf configuration orbital configuration Structure

f. Titanium (Ti) Proton number = 22

spdf configuration orbital configuration Structure

g. Iron (Fe) Proton number = 26

spdf configuration orbital configuration Structure

Anomolous Behaviour of Chromium and Copper

a. Chromium (Cr) Proton number = 24

spdf configuration orbital configuration Structure

Reason:

b. Copper (Cu) Proton number = 29

spdf configuration orbital configuration Structure

Reason:

2. Transition Elements and its Ions

Transition elements can form more than …………………………………………….

Fe: ……………………. ( ) ………………………… ( )

Ti: ……………………….( ) ………………………… ( )

Ni ……………………….. ( ) ……………………….. ( )

Mn …………………….( ) ………………………… ( )

When transition metals form ions, electrons are lost first from the ……………………. subshell rather than
……………..subshell. The 4s orbitals are more stable than the empty 3d level. But once the 3d level is occupied by
electrons, the 4s will move to the higher energy level. So the electrons from higher level (4s) are lost first before 3d.

Example:

Note: Scandium and Zinc are ………………….transition elements although they are at block d.

Why?
3. General Physical Properties

a. Atomic Radii

Explanation:

Almost ……………………………

…………………………………………. in effective nuclear charge

………………………………………….. is added to the inner 3d

subshell.

The shielding effect cancelling the increases in the

nuclear charge.

c. Densities

Explanation:

…………………………………. than the s-block elements.

Due to ………………………………………………………………… and

………………………………………………………………………………………

d. Ionic Radii
Ionic radius for the positive ion is ……………………………… than the neutral atomic radius due to the loss of the outer
electron.

Example

Across the period : …………………………………… to the pattern of the atomic radii.

Also affected by the oxidation state. Oxidation state ……………………………., ionic radii …………………………..

Example :
e. Meting point and Boiling point

Explanation

………………………. melting point and boiling point. Small …………………. differences between ………… and ………

Both …………… and ………………. contribute to ………………………………………….

Formed ……………………………………………………

Manganese and zinc have lower boiling point and melting point because they have

………………………….. and …………………………… d subshells with ……………………..

Only ……………… contribute to …………………………

Formed ………………………. metallic bond

f. Ionisation energy

............................................across the period .

………………………………………….. increase

……………………………………………… increases

More energy needed to remove the valens electron.

g. Electrical conductivity

………………………………. Electrical conductivities

………………………………. delocalized electron involved in the …………………………………….

TUTORIAL 13.1

1. Write the valence electronic configuration of the following atoms or ions. State the number of unpaired
electrons in each species.
a) Ti3+
b) Mn2+
c) Fe2+
d) Ni
e) Cu+

2. The first four ionization energies of the three elements Q,R and S are shown in the table below.

Elements Ionisation energy

First Second Third Fourth
Q 420 3100 4600 5900
R 740 1500 7700 11000
S 757 1640 3230 5100
Which of the elements is a transition element? Explain your answer.

3. Write the electronic configuration of calcium and chromium

(b) Using calcium and chromium as examples, explain how the electronic configuration of a transition
element differs from that of a main group element.
( c) compare the ionic radii of Ca2+ and Cr3+
(d) By referring to the ionization energies, explain how the oxidation state of calcium differ from that of
chromium.

4. The proton number of chromium is 24

(a) (i) Define the third ionization energy
(ii) Write an equation to represent the third ionization energy of chromium
(b) Write the electronic configuration of
(i) Chromium atom
(ii) Chromium (III) ion

5. The table below shows the physical properties of elements L and M

Physical properties Element L Element M

Proton number 20 22
Atomic radius 197 145
Melting point 840 1668
First ionization energy 590 661

(a) Write the valence electronic configuration for both the elements
(b) Explain the difference in the melting points of L and M
(c) Explain the difference in the first ionization energies of L and M