Transition Elements
General properties of the transition elements
- They are very hard and strong metals and are good conductors of heat and electricity
- They have very high melting points and are highly dense metals
- For example, the melting point of titanium is 1,688ºC whereas potassium in Group I melts at only 63.5ºC, slightly warmer than the average cup of hot chocolate!
- The transition elements form coloured compounds and often have more than one oxidation state, such as iron readily forming compounds of both Fe2+ and Fe3+
- These coloured compounds are responsible for the pigments in many paints and the colours of gemstones and rocks
- Transition elements, as elements or in compounds, are often used as catalysts to improve the rate or reaction in industrial processes
- Transition element catalysts of platinum or rhodium are also used in car exhausts in the 'catalytic convertor' to reduce the levels of nitrous oxides and carbon monoxide produced
The transition elements on the Periodic Table
Exam Tip
Although scandium and zinc are in the transition element area of the Periodic Table, they are not considered transition elements as they do not form coloured compounds and have only one oxidation state.