10 Things You Should Know About Transition Metals
- Author Zooph You
- Published November 14, 2011
- Word count 485
-
The scientific community has two accepted definitions for transition metals: first, it is an element with incomplete d sub-shell atoms, which may or may not result to cations with incomplete d sub-shells. The second defines about it as the elements found in the d block of the periodic table.
-
Charles Bury first used the word "transition" to describe the elements that undergo a transition series during an electron's change of inner layers. This transition occurs from a stable group of 8 to a group of 18, or from 18 to 32. These elements that underwent transition are now referred to as transition metals or d-block elements.
-
The atoms of the d-block elements have between 1 and 10 d electrons, with electronic structure written as [ ]ns2(n-1)dm wherein the inner d orbital has more energy than the valence-shell s orbital. While transition elements fall under the d-block, many chemistry textbooks and periodic tables classify La and Ac as d-block elements. This is because they have s2d1 atomic ground-state configurations that are similar to Sc and Y.
-
The incomplete d sub-shell actually makes d-block elements unique compared to other elements. Partially-filled d shells result to colorful compounds and compounds that are paramagnetic. Many oxidation states also result from the relatively low reactivity of unpaired d electrons. Because of this, d-block elements in aqueous solutions tend to be bright and can range from red, to orange, to yellow (aqueous solutions of Co(NO3)2, K2Cr2O7, and K2CrO4, respectively), and from turquoise, to blue, to purple (aqueous solutions of NiCl2, CuSO4, and KMnO4, respectively).
-
d-block elements have two or more oxidation states, but the main difference between d-block elements and other elements with regards to oxidation states is that transition metals have oxidation states that are known to have a single atom of the element coupled with one or more electrons that are unpaired.
-
Transition metal compounds with one or more unpaired d electrons become paramagnetic. Ferromagnetism also occurs when paramagnetic d atoms and their spin vectors are aligned across each other in a material that is crystalline in nature. Some examples of ferromagnetic materials involving transition metals include metallic iron and the alloy called alnico.
-
d-block elements and compounds have homogeneous and heterogeneous catalytic activity. Catalytic activity refers to their ability to form complexes and adopt more than one oxidation states.
-
Due to its ability to change oxidation states, transition metal ions are found to be very effective catalysts. At a solid surface, catalysts form bonds between reactant molecules and atoms of the surface of the catalyst. This, in turn, affects the reactants at the catalyst surface by increasing reactant concentration and weakening the reacting molecules' bonds.
-
d-block elements are metals and can therefore conduct electricity.
-
Due to metallic bonding by delocalized d electrons, the number of shared electrons increases with cohesion and results, ultimately, to high density, high melting points, and high boiling points for transition metals in general.
This story is brought to you by Silver Scott Mines, a publicly traded (OTC: SILS) junior mining company. Silver Scott Mines is a development stage precious metals company that currently operates in Mexico through a wholly owned subsidiary, Minera Mystery S. de R.L. de C.V. The Mexico corporate office is in Hermosillo, Sonora, the state capital and industrial center for northwestern Mexico.
Article source: https://articlebiz.comRate article
Article comments
There are no posted comments.
Related articles
- The Benefits of Streetlights
- The Chilling Truth: How Air Conditioning Feeds into World Hunger
- Shifting from Fossil Fuels to Renewable Energy – Using Sustainable Technologies
- Nigeria's Stride Towards Refined Oil: A Milestone in Energy Evolution
- Elimination of Species: An Argumentative View
- Plastic Pollution and the Importance of Plastic Recycling
- OCEAN ICE DROPS TO 'DISTURBING' LEVELS IN THE ANTARCTIC: 'EVERYBODY OUGHT TO BE CONCERNED'
- preventing your roof against hurricane season
- Sustainable buildings: the role of real estate development in environmental conservation
- Methane, a Significant Environmental Problem.
- 7 Effective Ways to Save Our Environment
- Harnessing the Potential of AI for a Sustainable Future
- Save our forests
- Impact Investing for Social and Environmental Challenges
- Consumerism: Why We Should Recycle
- Agroecology in Bangladesh: Nurturing Sustainable Agriculture
- IKO Shingle Roofing Manufacturer Moves to Lead the Future in Recycling
- The World is Burning: Why You Should Still Care About the Earth (Even if it Seems Hopeless)
- Unite Ukraine
- Disposing of Waste in The Army - The Need to Become Environmentally Friendly
- Eating for the Earth: How Your Dinnerware Choices Can Make a Difference
- Where are the Insects?
- Classic Hunting Rifles Every Hunter Should Own
- THE RATIONAL MORAL STATUS OF NON-HUMAN NATURAL PHENOMENON: AN ETHICS OF ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
- Benefits Of Camping: How Camping Helps Our Environment: (Part 2: Reduce, Reuse & Recycle...Camp Style)
- Benefits Of Camping: How Camping Helps Our Environment (Part 1: Keeping Nature Natural)
- Why is Food Depackaged and How is it Done??
- POSITIVE IMPACT OF AVIATION ON MANKIND (UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES) - UAVs
- Is the multiverse real?
- Climate Change and Its Effect on Health in India