Topic 15 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 causes the colour of a transition metal complex?

Back (Answer)

d orbitals are split by the energy in the ligands. Light is needed for electron promotion. The colour not absorbed is the colour seen.

Front (Question)

Transition metal

Back (Answer)

A d-block element that forms one or more stable ions with incompletely-filled d-orbitals.

Front (Question)

6 properties of transition metals

Back (Answer)

• Hard solids. • Have high melting & boiling temperatures. • Act as catalysts. • Form coloured ions & compounds. • Form ions with different oxidation numbers. • Form ions with incompletely-filled d-orbitals.

Front (Question)

Scandium & Zinc

Back (Answer)

They are d-block elements, but not transition metals as they only form one ion and they do not form coloured compounds. Zn2+ & Sc3+.

Front (Question)

What do transition metal ions involving higher oxidation numbers usually contain?

Back (Answer)

An electronegative element, e.g., oxygen.

Front (Question)

How do transition metals form ions with different oxidation numbers?

Back (Answer)

They lose their 4s electrons before their 3d electrons. They can lose a variable number of electrons.

Front (Question)

Back (Answer)

OS: +3, +4

Front (Question)

Back (Answer)

OS: +2, +3, +4; +5

Front (Question)

Back (Answer)

OS: +3, +6

#10

Front (Question)

Back (Answer)

OS: +2, +4; +7

#11

Front (Question)

Back (Answer)

OS: +2, +3

#12

Front (Question)

Back (Answer)

OS: +2, +3

#13

Front (Question)

Back (Answer)

OS: +2

#14

Front (Question)

Back (Answer)

OS: +1, +2

#15

Front (Question)

Why does highest common oxidation number increase from Ti to Mn?

Back (Answer)

All the 4s & 3d electrons become involved in bonding.

#16

Front (Question)

Why are ions with higher oxidation numbers less common from Fe to Cu?

Back (Answer)

The increasing nuclear charge means electrons are more strongly attracted to the nucleus and less likely to be involved in bonding.

#17

Front (Question)

Equation for a displacement reaction involving a transition metal ion

Back (Answer)

Mg(s) + Fe2+ (aq) –> Mg2+ (aq) + Fe(s)

#18

Front (Question)

Why do transition metal ions attract electron-rich species, incl. water molecules, more strongly?

Back (Answer)

Transition metal ions tend to have smaller ionic radii than non-transition metals in the same period.

#19

Front (Question)

Ligand

Back (Answer)

Species that uses a lone pair of electrons to form a dative bond with a metal ion.

#20

Front (Question)

Complex

Back (Answer)

A species containing a metal ion joined to ligands.

#21

Front (Question)

Complex ion

Back (Answer)

A complex with an overall positive or negative charge.

#22

Front (Question)

Coordination number

Back (Answer)

Number of dative bonds in a complex.

#23

Front (Question)

What letter do ligands with a negative charge end in?

Back (Answer)

o, e.g., Cl- = chloro.

#24

Front (Question)

Common ligands

Back (Answer)

• Water H2O, aqua. • Hydroxide OH-, hydroxo. • Ammonia NH3, ammine.