Transition Metal Family

Scandium (Sc)

• +3 is the most common oxidation state

• Similar chemistry to Al, Y, and lanthanides likely because the cation has no d-electrons

• Colorless

Titanium (Ti)

• Low density, high strength, and low corrosion

• Highest strength-to-weight ratio of any metal

• Similar properties to C and Si

• +3 and +4 are common oxidation states

• Applications: aircraft, artificial bones/joints, white pigment in paper

Vanadium (V)

• V₂O₅ is a catalyst in sulfuric acid production

• Makes strong and tough steels

• +5 is the most common oxidation state, but +2 … +5 exist for V

• Applications: engine parts, axles

Chromium (Cr)

• Corrosion resistant 

• Many of its compounds have intense colors; its name is from the Greek word for “color”

• Toxic and carcinogenic (water filtration)

• +2, +3, and +6 are the most common oxidation states  

• Applications: plating, red color of rubies

Tungsten (W)

• The only third row element found in biomolecules, but it is toxic in other conditions  

• Applications: hard materials like tungsten carbide (drills, abrasives, armory), incandescent light bulbs

Manganese (Mn)

• Oxidation state varies from +2 … +7

• Applications: batteries (dry cell cathode), catalyst (MnO2)

Technetium (Tc)

• The smallest element that has no stable isotopes; it is completely radioactive 

Iron (Fe)

• Production started in the Middle Bronze Age 

• Forms metal carbonyl bonds (M – CO) 

• Common oxidation states are +2 and +3 

• 4.7% abundance in the earth’s crust and 32.1% in the Earth as a whole, most abundant transition metal

• Applications: steel, alloys,

Cobalt (Co)

• Named after the German word for “goblin” because of its elusive properties, toxic by-products when mined, and compounds of many colors that are difficult to isolate

• Used to color glass since the Bronze Age; notable are the blue/white vases of the Ming dynasty

• Forms metal carbonyl bonds (M – CO) 

• Common oxidation states are +2 and +3 

• Applications: Li-ion battery (cathode), vitamin B12

Nickel (Ni)

• Corrosion-resistant 

• Nickel-48 is “double-magic” and thus extremely stable 

• Forms metal carbonyl bonds (M – CO) 

• US nickels use 25% Ni. Ni price is expensive and most countries cease to use it in their coins. A US nickel costs > 11 cents to produce

• +2 is the common oxidation state 

• Applications: plating, steel, alloys, coinage, NiCad batteries (cathode)

Platinum (Pt)

• Name is Spanish for “little silver” 

• It is the least reactive metal, yet it is an excellent catalyst 

  • Called noble metals because they are not reactive 

• +2 and +4 are common oxidation states 

• Applications: catalyst, jewelry

Copper (Cu)

• Bronze is an alloy of Cu and Sn (Bronze Age); Brass is an alloy of Cu and Zn 

• Common in coinage because of durability and it is corrosion-resistant 

• High conductivity 

• s-electrons dominate its chemistry 

• 100% recyclable to its original state 

• Common oxidation states: +1, +2 

• Applications: wires

Gold (Au)

• Does not oxidize in air or water 

• Most malleable of all metals – it can be pressed so thin that it becomes a clear sheet 

• Gold standards are a basis for monetary value throughout history up until the fiat currency

Zinc (Zn)

•  +2 is the common oxidation state 

• Brass is an alloy of Cu and Zn 

• Corrosion-resistant

• Diamagnetic

• Colorless

• Applications: galvanizing, batteries (dry cell anode)

Cadmium (Cd)

• +2 is the common oxidation state 

• Highly toxic via ingestion or inhalation. Tobacco contains Cd. 

• Applications: batteries (NiCad anode)

Mercury (Hg)

• Also called quicksilver

• Only metal that is liquid at STP, though its liquid range is relatively small 

• +1 and +2 are common oxidation states 

  • Dimer when +1

• Historically found in Chinese and Egyptian tombs because it was thought to prolong life. The first emperor of the Qin dynasty died from drinking Hg

• Toxic by ingestion or inhalation of cinnabar

• Mercury is used to trace Lewis & Clark’s trail because their party used laxatives composed of mercury, specifically calomel

• Applications: thermometers, fluorescent lights

Lanthanides (inner transition metals)

• Because f-electrons don’t play a significant role in bonding, the elements in the series have similar chemistry to each other

• +3 is a common oxidation state from the loss of two electrons from the 6s and one from the 4f, but +2 and +4 are also possible

• Ions lose s-electrons before f-electrons