Unit 4: Up Close: The Periodic Table of Elements

Section 2: Transition Metals

* Introduction
* Properties of Transition Metals
* Some Transition Metals

Introduction

When you stare at the perodic table, you see nice whole columns of elements
that are grouped together with similar properties. After group 1 and group
2, you see a big gap before you reach group 3. As you peer harder at this
gap, you see elements in between group two and group three. These are the
transition elements. In this section, we shall touch up on the properties of
some of these elements.

Properties of Transition Metals

The transition metals, also known as the transition elements, occupy the
space between group 2 and group 3 of the perodic table. Metals such as gold,
silver, copper, iron, nickel, chromium, and mercury are included in this
group. The transition metals have some common characteristics among them.
They include color, magnetisum, formation of complex ions, and multiple
oxidation states (the number of electrons they give off varies).

All other properties have failed to have shown regularity in this group of
elements. For example, from Scandium (Sc) to Vanadium (V), the melting
points increase from element to element. Whereas, Chromium (Cr), an element
in the same period, shows a sharp decrease in melting point from Vanadium.

Some Transiton Metals

Transition metals have many properties that differ from elements in the
group. We shall now consider the properties of some of these elements.

Chromium (Cr)

Chromium has been known to prevent corrosion. In the 1996 Olympics opening
cermonies, chromium was applied to trucks used in one of the many acts
performed. The purpose? To reflect light to illumniate what was happening on
the field. Chromium can be applied to steel objects to improve their
apperance. It can be found in chromite, FeCr2O4. Chromium also accounts for
the red color in rubies.

Iron (Fe)

Iron is the fourth most abundant element in the earth's crust. It also forms
a large part of the earth's crust and can be found in meteorites. Iron can
found in hematite, Fe2O3, and magnetite, Fe3O4. Pyrite, fool's gold, also
contains iron (FeS2). Iron also forms compounds with nitrogen, phosporus,
and certain transition metals. Pure iron can be diffucult to extract from
compounds contain iron, so most of the iron produced is in the form of
steel. Steel is an alloy of iron that contains carbon and certain elements
in small amounts to increase the strengh and enhance certain properties of
iron.

Copper

Copper is a red, shiny metal. In cuprite, Cu2O, it gives a brilliant red
color. Oddly, in copper sulfate, CuS04, copper gives the solution a blue
color! However, the red color is associated with copper. Copper is also one
of the few metals to be found in its free state (not in a compound). It can
be drawn into wires easily, and can conduct electricity very well (second to
only to silver in electrical conductivity). Copper was formerly the main
component of many coins produced. However, today it is being replaced by
other metals due to its small amounts in the earth's crust.