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Transition Elements
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Chapter Overview
Electronic Configuration

Magnetic property

Catalytic property

Coloured compounds formation

Variable oxidation states

Complex compound formation

Concepts
Introduction

TRANSITION ELEMENTS
"Those elements which have partially filled d or f -subshells in atomic state or in any of
their commonly occurring oxidation states are called transition elements"

There are 65 transition elements out of this 37 are d-block element and 28 are f-
block elements.

d-block consist of four series

3d-series (Sc - Zn)

4d-series (Y - Cd)

5d-series (La - Hg)

6d-series (Rf-Cn)

f-block consist of two series

Lanthanide series

Actinide series

Transition Elements 1
 General Characteristics of Transition Elements
Partially filled d & f orbitals

Paramagnetic behaviour

Catalytic properties

Coloured compounds formation

Variable oxidation states

Complex compound formation

Transition Elements of 3d Series

21 Sc, 22 Ti, 23 V, 24 Cr, 25 Mn, 26 Fe, 27 Co, 28 Ni, 29 Cu, 30 Zn

Non-typical transition elements

The elements (Zn, Cd, Hg) of group IIB and (Sc, Y, La) of group IIIB are called non-
typical transition elements.

Group IIB Elements

According to definition of transition elements, Zn, Cd and Hg should not be placed with
d-block elements because they do not have a partially filled d-orbital either as
elements or in any of their oxidation state.

Group IIIB elements

They have one electron in the d-sub-shell of their atoms. But in compounds, they
3+ 3+ 3+
mostly occur as the tripositive ions (Sc , Y , La ), having no d-electron. In this
way they exhibit the properties of main group elements.

Properties differing from typical transition elements

These elements (Zn, Cd, Hg) are diamagnetic.

They do not show variable oxidation state.

Most of their compounds are colourless.

Electronic Configuration
In atoms of the transition elements, the 4s subshell is normally filled and the rest of
the electrons occupy orbitals in the 3d subshell.

Chromium and copper atoms are the exceptions. Chromium atoms have just one
electron in the 4s subshell. The remaining five electrons are arranged in the 3d
subshell so that each orbital is occupied by one electron.

Transition Elements 2
 Copper atoms also have just one electron in the 4s subshell. The remaining ten
electrons are arranged in the 3d subshell so that each orbital is filled by two
electrons

Variable Oxidation States

Transition metals has variable oxidation states due to the fact that the energy of (n - 1)d
and ns electrons are nearly same hence the removal of electron is easy. When ns
electrons are removed the reminder is called core or kernel (unstable) hence one or
more electrons can be removed further for stability hence more oxidation states are
possible.

Transition Metal Oxidation States

Sc 2, 3

Ti 2, 3, 4

V 2, 3, 4, 5

Cr 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Mn 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Fe 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Co 2, 3, 4, 5

Ni 2, 3, 4

Cu 1, 2, 3

Zn 2

Transition Elements 3
 In a general view the first four elements of each transition series have more stability
in their higher oxidation state while for the next five elements more stability is in the
lower oxidation state.

+1 oxidation state is only stable for Cu in simple compounds.

In some compounds the oxidation states of transition metals is zero.

[Nio (CO)4 ], [Feo (CO)5 ]
​ ​

Used As Catalyst
Catalytic activity of transition elements and their compounds is due to:

i. The presence of vacant d-orbital.

ii. Tendency to show variable oxidation state.

iii. Their larger surface area.

Due to these properties, they can easily from various intermediates during a reaction.

They also form interstitial compounds which can absorb an activator to the reacting
species.

Enzymes are protein molecules and many of them contain transition metal ions e.g:
Haemoglobin contains Fe2+ .

Transition Elements or their

Reaction Catalysed
compounds as catalyst

Mixture of ZnO and Cr2 O3  ​ ​ Manufacture of methyl alcohol

Hydrogenation of vegetable oil

Ni, Pt and Pd
Saturation of alkene & alkyne into alkane

MnO2  ​ Decomposition of H2 O2 
​ ​

TiCl3 , TiCl4 ​ ​ In production of polyethene

V 2 O5 
​ ​
In Contact process

Fe In Haber Bosch process

Complex Compounds
Complex Compounds
"A substance formed when one or more anions or neutral molecules are bonded with a
metal atom or ion is called complex".

OR

"The compounds containing the complex molecules or complex ions and capable of
independent existence are called coordination compounds or complexes."

Transition Elements 4
 In complexes, coordinate covalent bond is present so they are called coordination
compounds.

There are three types of complexes.

i. A simple cation and complex anion e.g: K4 [Fe(CN)6 ]. ​ ​

ii. A complex cation and simple anion, e.g; [Cu(NH3 )4 ]SO4 . ​ ​ ​

iii. A neutral complex, e.g; [Ni(CO)4 ] ​

LIGAND
“The atom, ion or neutral molecules, which surrounds the central metal ion and donate
electron pairs to it are called Ligands”.

Electron pair to
Ligands Examples
donate

Neutral: Anionic:
Monodentate 1
NH3 , PH3 , H2 O
​ ​ ​
X− , OH− , CN− 
Neutral: Anionic:
Bidantate 2
H2 NCH2 CH2 NH2 
​ ​ ​ ​ CO32 , C2 O4 −2 
​ ​ ​ ​

Tridentate 3 H2 N(CH2 )2 NH(CH2 )2 NH2 

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Tetradentate 4 H2 N(CH2 )2 NH(CH2 )2 NH(CH2 )2 NH2 

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Hexadentate 6 EDTA

Coloured Compound
When white light is allowed to fall on a complex, the following things may occur:

i. The complex may absorb the whole white light. In this case it appears black.

ii. The complex may reflect or transmit the whole light. In this case it appears
white.

iii. The complex may absorb some of it and may reflect or transmit the remaining
light. In this case the complex has some color. i.e. it is colored.

The absorption of light by the colored complexes takes place. in the visible region
of the spectrum which extends from 4000 o Ato 7000 o Ain wavelengths.

The color of the absorbed light is different from that of the transmitted light.
Complimentary colours

The color of the transmitted light is called the complementary color of that of the
absorbed light and is in fact the color of the complex.

Transition Elements 5
 The colour of transition metal compounds is due to d-d transition of electron.

Examples:
2+
i. Hydrated cupric sulphate containing [Cu(H2 O)4 ]
​ ​
ions is blue in color because it
absorbs yellow light.

ii. Cupric ammonium sulphate containing [Cu(NH3 )4 ]2+ ions is violet because it
​ ​

absorbs yellow green light.

iii. In [Ti(H2 O)]3+ ion, yellow light is absorbed while most of the blue and red lights
​

are transmitted. Therefore, the solution of [Ti(H2 O)]3+ ions look violet in colour.
​

The complex ions which absorb light in the infrared or ultra violet regions of the
spectrum are colorless.

i. Anhydrous cupric sulphate is colorless since it absorbs light in the infrared region.

Practice MCQs

1. The paramagnetic character of substances is due to the presence of

a. Bond pairs of electron

Transition Elements 6
 b. Lone pairs of electron

c. Unpaired electrons in the atom or molecule

d. Paired electrons in the valence shell of atoms

2. Which pair of transition elements shows abnormal electronic configuration?

a. Sc and Zn

b. Cu and Sc

c. Zn and Cu

d. Cu and Cr

3. The anomalous electronic configuration shown by chromium and copper among 3-d
series of elements is due to:

a. Colour of ions of these metals

b. Variable oxidation states of metals

c. Stability associated with this configuration

d. Complex formation tendency of metals

4. Which clement of 3-d series of periodic table shows the electronic configuration of
3d8, 4s2?

a. Copper

b. Zinc

c. Cobalt

d. Nickel

5. Which of the following is the electronic configuration of Cr?

a. [Ar]3d5 4s2

b. [Ar]3d4 4s2

c. [Ar]3d6 4s0

d. [Ar]3d5 4s1

6. Copper is a typical transition metal. Its atomic number is 29. In which oxidation state
does it have partially filled orbital in d-subshell?

a. Cu

b. Cu2+

c. Cu-

Transition Elements 7
 d. Cu+

7. Valence electronic configuration Cu+2 is 29Cu.

a. 5d6

b. 3d9

c. 3d8

d. 3d7

8. The total number of transition element is

a. 68

b. 48

c. 30

d. 25

9. [Ti (H2 O)6 ]3+ transmits

​ ​

a. Yellow and red light

b. Yellow and blue light

c. Red and white light

d. Red and blue light

3+
10. Violet color of [Ti (H2 O)6 ]
​ ​ ion is due to the

a. Central metal ion

b. Water molecule

c. Complex ion

d. Outer anion

11. The color of transition metal complexes is due to transition of electron between

a. p to d orbitals

b. p to p orbitals

c. d to d orbitals

d. d to p orbitals
3+
12. The octahedral geometry of complexes [Co(NH3 )6 ] ​ ​ has hybridization

a. sp3d

b. spd4

Transition Elements 8
 c. sp3d2

d. sp2d3

13. In the complex, potassium hexacyanoferate (III) [K3 Fe(CN)6 ]the coordination number
​ ​

of Fe is:

a. 9

b. 6

c. 3

d. d

14. Co-ordination number of [Co(en)2 Cl2 ]is​ ​

a. -2

b. 6

c. 4

d. None of the above

2+
15. In 3rd series of transition elements, paramagnetic behavior is maximum for Mn and

a. Cr3+ 
b. Ti3+ 
c. V3+ 
d. Zn2+ 
16. The transition element which doesn't show variable valency is

a. Cu

b. Sc

c. Zn

d. Cr

17. Zn+2 ion is colourless because:

a. Its undergoes d-d transition of electron.

b. Its 3d orbitals have all unpaired electrons.

c. Its 3d orbitals have all paired electrons.

d. Its d orbitals split up into t2 g and eg

​

18. 5d series of outer transition elements is:

Transition Elements 9
 a. Sc to Zn

b. Y to Cd

c. La to Hg

d. Ac to Cn

19. E.D.T.A is:

a. Bidantate ligand

b. Monodantate ligand

c. Tridantate ligand

d. Hexadantate ligand

20. The Theory which explains fully the colors of complex ions is

a. VBT

b. MOT

c. CFT

d. VSEPR theory

Answer key

1 c 11 c

2 d 12 c

3 c 13 b

4 d 14 b

5 d 15 a

6 b 16 c

7 b 17 c

8 a 18 c

9 d 19 d

10 a 20 c

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Transition Elements 10
Transition Elements 11