Transition Elements
Instructor Name: Ali Meraj
Experience: 17 Years
Transition Elements
Transition elements may be defined as those elements
which have partially filled d or f-subshells in atomic
state or in any of their commonly occurring oxidation
states.
Transition Elements
Transition Elements
Transition Elements
d block series (n-1)d¹–¹⁰ ns⁰–²
The outer transition elements, also known as the d-block
elements, are elements in which the d-orbitals are
progressively filled. These include elements from Groups 3 to
12 of the periodic table, typically spanning periods 4 through 7.
Transition Elements
f block series (n-2)f¹–¹⁴ (n-1)d⁰–¹ ns²
Transition Elements
Outer and inner transition elements
Transition Elements
i. Initial Filling:
When the orbitals are empty, the 4s orbital is lower in energy
than the 3d orbital, so electrons fill the 4s orbital first
according to the Aufbau principle (filling orbitals in order of
increasing energy).
ii. Shifting Energy Levels:
However, as electrons are added to the 3d orbitals, the
increased nuclear charge and decreased shielding by other
electrons cause the 3d orbitals to become more stable and
lower in energy than the 4s orbital.
Transition Elements
iii. Consequences for Ions:
This energy level shift also explains why, when
transition metals form ions, the 4s electrons are
removed before the 3d electrons. The 4s electrons,
being less tightly bound, are lost more easily.
Example:
For instance, in the case of chromium (Cr), the electron
configuration is [Ar] 3d⁵ 4s¹ instead of the expected [Ar] 3d⁴
4s². This is because the half-filled 3d subshell with one 4s
electron results in a more stable configuration.
Transition Elements
Properties Of Transition Elements
1. They are all metals in true sense, some of which play
important role in industry, e.g. Ti, Fe, Cr, Ni, Cu, Mo, W, Zr, Nb,
Ta, Th, etc.
2. They are all hard and strong metals with high melting and
boiling points.
They are also good conductors of heat and electricity.
3. They form alloys with one another and also with other
elements.
4. With few exceptions, they show variable valency or
oxidation state.
5. Their ions and compounds are coloured in solid state as well
as in solution form at least in one if not all the oxidation states.
Types Of Transition Elements
1.Non - Typical Transition Elements
II-B group (Zn, Cd, Hg) and III-B group (Sc, Y, La) elements
are called non-typical transition elements.
2.Typical Transition Elements
I-B group,IV B,VB,VIB,VIIB and VIII-B group elements are
called typical transition elements.
Electronic Configuration
Abnormal Electronic Configutaion
General Characteristics
1. Binding Energies
W Re
80 Tu
70 Os
Hf
60 V Ir Pt
50 Ti
40 Co Ni La
30 Cr Au
Sc Fe Cu
20
Ba
10 Ca Mn
0 Zn Cs Hg
K
Atomic Number
2. Melting and Boiling Points
3. Covalent Radii and Ionic Radii
180 Ca
160 Zn
Sc
Covalent of Ionic Radii
Covalent Radii
140 Ti Cr Fe Cu
(Units of mm)
120 Ni
V Mn Co
110 Ca2+
Ti2+
80 Sc2+ Mn2+ Zn2+
V2+ Co2+ Ni2+
Cr2+ Fe2+ Cu2+ Ionic Radii
60
20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Atomic Number
4. Paramagnetism
4. Paramagnetism
Observed Paramagnetic
Moment
Sc3+ V3+ Mn3+ Fe2+ Ni2+ Zn2+
Ti3+ Cr3+ Fe3+ Co2+ Cu2+
5. Oxidation State
• Transition elements show variable oxidation state.
• They use unpaired d-electrons along with
s-electros in bond formation.
• In the 1st transition series Mn has highest (+7) oxidation
state which decreases on both sides.
5. Oxidation State
6. Colour
d-d-
transition
Δ
E
After
adsorption of
ΔE
Example
[Ti(H2O)6]3+ absorbs yellow light and transmit blue and
red light. So its solution looks violet.
7. Alloy Formation
• Alloy is a mixture of two or more metals”.
• Due to same size, transition metal atoms replace
one another in metallic lattice and form
substitutional alloys.
Example
• Steel, brass, bronze, coinage alloys etc.
• In steel iron atoms are substituted by Cr, Mn and Ni
atoms.
Interstitial Compounds
Transition Metal Complexes
• Compounds which contain complex molecules or complex ions
and can exist independently are called coordination compounds
or complexes.
• Types
• A complex compound may contain.
• 1) A simple cation and a complex anion.
• 2) A complex cation and a simple anion.
• Examples: K4[Fe(CN)6], [Co(NH3)6]Cl3 etc.
Components Of Complexes
Components Of Complexes
Past Papers
*(MDCAT 2019)**
Copper is a typical transition element. In which
oxidation state does it have a partially filled
d-subshell?
A) Cu⁰
B) Cu⁺
C) Cu⁻
d) All of these
Past Papers
*(MDCAT 2019)**
Correct ground-state electronic configuration of Cr:
A) [Ar] 3d⁵ 4s²
B) [Ar] 3d⁵ 4s¹
C) [Ar] 3d⁴ 4s²
D) [Ar] 3d⁶ 4s⁰
Past Papers
**(MDCAT 2016 / UHS 2016)**
Which element of the 3d-series shows configuration
[Ar] 3d⁸ 4s²?
A) Copper
B) Cobalt
C) Zinc
D) Nickel
Past Papers
**(MDCAT 2016 / UHS 2016)**
Configuration of Cr³⁺ is:
A) [Ar] 3d⁵ 4s²
B) [Ar] 3d⁵ 4s⁰
C) [Ar] 3d² 4s¹
D) [Ar] 3d³ 4s⁰
Past Papers
(MDCAT 2017)
Electronic configuration of Sc³⁺ (Z = 21)?
A) 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3d³
B) 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s² 4p¹
C) 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 4s² 3d¹
D) 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3s¹ 4p²
Past Papers
*(MDCAT 2023)**
Which transition metal shows 3d⁵
configuration in its +2 oxidation state?
A) Cu²⁺
B) Fe²⁺
C) Mn²⁺
D) Zn²⁺
Past Papers
(Sindh MDCAT 2019)
Copper (Z=29) is a:
A) d¹ system
B) d³ system
C) d⁷ system
D) d¹⁰ system
Past Papers
(Sindh MDCAT 2019)
The colour of transition metal
complexes is due to:
A) d–d transition of electrons
B) Refraction phenomenon
C) Paramagnetic nature
D) Loss of s-electrons
Past Papers
**(MDCAT 2016 / UHS 2016)**
Which 3d-series element has configuration [Ar]
3d⁸ 4s²?
A) Copper
B) Cobalt
C) Zinc
D) Nickel
Past Papers
*(MDCAT 2016 / UHS 2016)**
Electronic configuration of Cr³⁺ is:
A) [Ar] 3d⁵ 4s²
B) [Ar] 3d⁵ 4s⁰
C) [Ar] 3d² 4s¹
D) [Ar] 3d³ 4s⁰ (A
Past Papers
**(MDCAT 2019)**
Copper is a typical transition element. In which
oxidation state does it have a partially filled d-
subshell?
A) Cu⁰
B) Cu⁺
C) Cu⁻
D) Cu²⁺
Past Papers
(MDCAT 2015)
Which pair has the same electronic
configuration as Ne (1s² 2s² 2p⁶)?
A) Na⁺, Cl⁻
B) Na⁺, Mg⁺
C) K⁺, Cl⁻
D) Na⁺, F⁻
Past Papers
**(MDCAT 2023)**
Which transition metal shows 3d⁵
configuration in its +2 oxidation state?
A) Cu²⁺
B) Fe²⁺
C) Mn²⁺
D) Zn²⁺
Past Papers
**(MDCAT 2012)**
Which pair of transition elements shows
abnormal electronic configurations?
A) Sc and Zn
B) Cu and Sc
C) Zn and Cu
D) Cu and Cr
