Transition Metals

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Total cards: 24•Content version: v4•Public deck•Updated: 8/1/2026

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Front (Question)

What is a transition metal?

Back (Answer)

Metals that contain an incomplete d sub shell in at least one of their ions

Front (Question)

Where are transition metals found?

Back (Answer)

In the ‘d block’ (middle, group 3)

Front (Question)

Why are Sc and Zn technically NOT transition metals, despite being found in the d block?

Back (Answer)

They have no or complete d shells Sc 3+ = [Ar] Zn 2+ = [Ar] 3d10

Front (Question)

What is a ligand?

Back (Answer)

An atom or ion which donates a lone pair to form a co-ordinate bond to metal

Front (Question)

What is a complex?

Back (Answer)

A metal ion with ligands co-ordinately bonded to it

Front (Question)

What is the co-ordination number?

Back (Answer)

The number of co-ordinate bonds from ligands to the metal ion in the complex

Front (Question)

What is a bidentate ligand?

Back (Answer)

A ligand which forms two co-ordinate bonds. Two different lone pairs on the molecule donate two electron pairs

Front (Question)

Give 2 examples of a monodentate ligand

Back (Answer)

H2O: :OH- :NH3 :CN- :Cl

Front (Question)

When can optical isomerism occur?

Back (Answer)

Can occur when bidentate ligands are attached to an octahedral complex

#10

Front (Question)

Give an example of a multidentate ligand

Back (Answer)

EDTA 4-, haem, [Pt(NH3)2Cl2] (cisplatin), [Ag(NH3)2]+

#11

Front (Question)

Why is EDTA 4- such an effective ligand?

Back (Answer)

It has 6 lone pairs, and so can form 6 points of attachment

#12

Front (Question)

[Cu(H2O)6]2+ is added with an unknown substance. The solution turns from light blue to dark blue. What was the unknown substance?

Back (Answer)

Ammonia

#13

Front (Question)

Ammonia is added to [Cu(H2O)6]2+. What are the products formed?

Back (Answer)

[Cu(NH3)4(H2O)2]2+ + 4H2O

#14

Front (Question)

Concentrated HCl is added to [Cu(H2O)6]2+. What are the products formed?

Back (Answer)

[CuCl4]2- + 6H2O

#15

Front (Question)

Ammonia is added to [Cu(H2O)6]2+. What is the colour change observed?

Back (Answer)

Light blue to dark blue

#16

Front (Question)

Concentrated HCl is added to [Cu(H2O)6]2+. What is the colour change observed?

Back (Answer)

Light blue to yellow

#17

Front (Question)

Concentrated HCl is added to [Cu(H2O)6]2+. The solution should turn yellow, but it looks more green. Why?

Back (Answer)

Because it’s going from blue to yellow

#18

Front (Question)

Ammonia is added to [Co(H2O)6]2+. What are the products formed?

Back (Answer)

[Co(NH3)6]2+ + 6H2O

#19

Front (Question)

Ammonia is added to [Co(H2O)6]2+. What is the colour change observed?

Back (Answer)

Pink to pale brown

#20

Front (Question)

Concentrated HCl is added to [Co(H2O)6]2+. What is the colour change observed?

Back (Answer)

Pink to dark blue

#21

Front (Question)

Concentrated HCl is added to [Co(H2O)6]2+. What are the products formed?

Back (Answer)

[CoCl4]2- + 6H2O

#22

Front (Question)

Why is the colour change so dramatic when concentrated HCl is added to [Co(H2O)6]2+?

Back (Answer)

The colour change is dramatic because the co-ordination number also changes (Cl is big so can’t fit round octahedral)

#23

Front (Question)

What is the chelate effect?

Back (Answer)

The substitution of monodentate ligands (eg H2O) by multidentate ligands

#24

Front (Question)

What is a use of a chelate?

Back (Answer)

It is useful in dealing with heavy metal poisoning, as it ‘cages’ up and so limits the poisoning effects