Transition element

1. Which of the following is the most accurate definition of transition elements?

A. Elements with variable oxidation states.
B. Elements with high melting and boiling points.
C. Elements with the ability to form coloured compounds.
D. Elements with partially-filled d orbitals at zero or normal oxidation states. [STPM 2005]

2. The transition element that has the highest oxidation state in its compound is
A. chromium B. vanadium C. manganese D. nickel

3. Among the following compounds, which transition element has the lowest oxidation state?
A. Na2CrO4 B. Ni(CO)4 C. K4Fe(CN)6 D. Co(NH3)3Cl3 [STPM 2000]

4. Chromium has variable oxidation states. However, it does not form Cr 6+ ion. Which of the following statements
explains this phenomenon?
A. Chromium is not reactive.
B. Cr6+ ion has a high charge density.
C. The maximum oxidation state of chromium is +5.
D. Cr 6+ ion has a stable electronic configuration [Ar] 3d 10 [ Clone STPM 1991]

5.Transition metals and their compounds are widely used as industrial catalysts. Which of the following matches
between the industrial process and the catalyst is incorrect?

Industrial process Catalyst

A. Contact process V2O5
B. Haber process Fe
C. Margarine production Ni
D.Nitric(V) acid production Cu
[Clone STPM 1989]

6. A Ziegler-Natta catalyst is used to produce high density polyethene because the titanium(IV) ion in the catalyst
A. has empty d orbitals.
B. has low activation energy.
C. has many valence electrons.
D. can change its oxidation state. [STPM 2005]

7. Which species does not act as a ligand in the formation of complexes?

A. CO B. Cl- C. NH4+ D. H20

8.“Iron tablets” used as supplements contain iron(ll) compound. Which of the following aqueous reagents
could be used to determine the percentage of iron in the tablets by titration?
A. Ethanedioic acid
B. Sodium hydroxide solution
C. Nitric acid
D. Potassium dichromate(VI) solution

9. Zn2+ ions form a white precipitate, Zn(OH) 2, with an aqueous solution of ammonia. The white precipitate
dissolves when a NH4Cl solution is added to it. Which statement explains the observation?
A. A soluble ZnCl2 compound is formed.
B. NH3 molecule is a stronger ligand than OH-
C. NH4+ ions increase the solubility product of Zn(OH) 2.
D. NH4+ ions decrease the concentration of OH- ions in the solution.
[STPM 2008]
 Transition element

10. Chromium(III) ion forms several complexes with different ligands. 5 cm 3 of 0.1 mol dm-3 aqueous solution of
chromium(III) is mixed with different volumes of 0.1 mol dm -3aqueous solution of ligand L. A graph of the
relative intensity of the colour of the complex formed against the volume of ligand L is given below.

Ligand L is
A Cl- B. EDTA4- C. NH3 D. H2NCH2CH2NH2 [STPM 2005]

11. Transition elements have variable oxidation states in complex ions. What are the correct oxidation states of
iron in the following complex ions?

[Fe(en)2(SCN)2]+ [Fe(EDTA)2-
A. +2 +2
B. +2 +3
C. +3 +2 [STPM 2006]
D. +3 +3

12. The element X has a proton number of 27. Which of the following statements are true of X?
I. The metal X has a high density.
II X forms coloured complex ions.
III The highest oxidation ntunber of X in its ion is +7.
IV The metal X has a higher conductivity than calcium.
A. I and II only B. I and III only C. II and IV only D. III and IV only [Clone STPM 2006]

13. The standard reduction potentials for three half-cells at 298 K are given as follows.
E°/ V
FeO42- + 8H+ 3e- ↔ Fe3+ + 4H2O +2.20
MnO4- + 8H+ 5e - ↔ Mn2+ + 4H2O +1.52
Ni + 2e
2+ -
↔ Ni -0.25
Which of the following statements are true?
I. FeO42- ion is a stronger oxidising agent than MnO4- ion.
II FeO42- ion is unstable in water.
III The reaction between acidic MnO 4- ions and nickel is spontaneous.
IV The higher the oxidation state of a species, the stronger is its oxidation power.
A. I and II only B. I and III only C. II and IV only D. III and IV only [Clone STPM 2005]

14. Which of the following explains why transition elements formed coloured ions?
A. Incompletely filled 3d subshell
B. Ability to form complex ions
C. Ability to act as catalysts
D. Variable oxidation states [STPM 2013]

15. Which statement is true of the transition elements?

A. All compounds formed by transition elements are coloured.
B. All their atoms have incompletely filled 3d sub-shell in their ground states.
C. They exhibit variable oxidation states.
D. All their ions have incompletely filled 3d sub-shell [STPM 2010]
 Transition element

16. An element W has the electronic configuration of [Ar] 3d 64s2.

Which statement(s) is/ are true of W?
I. It exhibits oxidation states of +2, +3 and +6.
II. It has 4 unpaired electrons in the ground state.
III. It forms an oxoanion with formula of WO42-.
IV. It forms coloured oxides.
A. I and III B. II and IV C. II, III and IV D. I, II, III and IV [STPM 2011]

STRUCTURED QUESTION:

1. (a) What do you understand by the term transition element?

(b) An aqueous solution of iron( III) chloride is yellowish. When a few drops of potassium thiocynate, KSCN.
is added to aqueous iron( III) chloride, a red solution is obtained.
(i) Give the formula of the ion responsible for the yellow colour of iron(IIl) chloride.
(ii) Write an ionic equation for the production of the red solution.
(iii) Name the type of reaction taking place.

(c) lron(III) reacts with excess of CN- ions to form hexacyanoferrate(III) ions.
(i) Give the formula of the complex ion.
(ii) Draw the shape of the complex ion.
(iii) Compare the oxidising power of the iron( III) aqueous ion and the hexacyanoferrate(III) ion.
Explain your answer.
[STPM 2008]
2. Ethylenediamine forms a stable complex ion with nickel(II) ions. Explain the formation of the complex ion.
[STPM 2009]