3rd Secondary Chemistry - Chapter 1: Transition Elements

A set of vocabulary flashcards defining key transition metals, their electronic properties, industrial processes, alloys, and chemical compounds.

Main Transition Elements

d-block elements located in the middle of the periodic table between s and p blocks, where electrons occupy the d sublevel in sequence, comprising more than 60 elements.

Inner Transition Elements

f-block elements located below the main body of the periodic table, where electrons occupy the f sublevel in sequence, comprising about 28 elements.

Transition Element

An element in which the d or f orbitals are occupied with electrons but not completely filled in its atomic state or in one of its oxidation states.

First Transition Series

A series of ten elements located in the 4th period where the 3d sublevel is filled successively, starting from ${}_{21}\text{Sc}\,(4s^2, 3d^1)$ to ${}_{30}\text{Zn}\,(4s^2, 3d^{10})$.

Second Transition Series

A series of ten elements located in the 5th period where the 4d sublevel is filled successively, starting from ${}_{39}\text{Y}\,(5s^2, 4d^1)$ to ${}_{48}\text{Cd}\,(5s^2, 4d^{10})$.

Third Transition Series

A series of ten elements located in the 6th period where the 5d sublevel is filled successively, starting from ${}_{57}\text{La}\,(6s^2, 5d^1)$ to ${}_{80}\text{Hg}\,(6s^2, 5d^{10})$.

Group VIII (Group 8)

A group consisting of columns 8, 9, and 10 in the periodic table whose elements exhibit higher horizontal similarity than vertical similarity.

Scandium (${}_{21}\text{Sc}$)

A transition metal that forms a light and hard alloy with aluminum used in Mig fighter jets, and is added to mercury vapor lamps to produce sunlight-like light for night TV photography.

Titanium (${}_{22}\text{Ti}$)

A strong, low-density element as rigid as steel that maintains durability at high temperatures; used in aircraft, space shuttles, dental implants, and artificial joints due to being chemically inert.

Titanium Dioxide ($\text{TiO}_2$)

A titanium compound whose minute nanoparticles prevent the harmful effects of UV rays on the skin, used in sun protection cosmetics.

Vanadium (${}_{23}\text{V}$)

A transition element added to steel to produce a high-hardness, corrosion-resistant alloy used in car springs.

Vanadium Pentoxide ($\text{V}_2\text{O}_5$)

A compound used as a catalyst in preparing sulphuric acid via the contact method, a catalyst in strong magnetic conductors, and a dye in ceramic and glass industries.

Chromium (${}_{24}\text{Cr}$)

A chemically active transition metal that resists atmospheric corrosion due to passivity, used extensively in metal plating and leather tanning.

Passivity

The formation of a non-porous layer of metal oxide with a larger molecular volume than the metal atoms, preventing further oxidation and chemical reactions with air.

Chromium(III) Oxide ($\text{Cr}_2\text{O}_3$)

A compound of chromium used in the manufacture of dyes.

Potassium Dichromate ($\text{K}_2\text{Cr}_2\text{O}_7$)

A chromium compound widely utilized as a strong oxidizing agent.

Manganese (${}_{25}\text{Mn}$)

A brittle transition metal that is never used in its pure form; alloyed with aluminum for beverage cans and with iron to form ferromanganese for railway tracks.

Manganese Dioxide ($\text{MnO}_2$)

A compound used in dry cells as a strong oxidizing agent and as a catalyst in the decomposition reaction of hydrogen peroxide.

Potassium Permanganate ($\text{KMnO}_4$)

A manganese compound used as an antiseptic agent.

Manganese(II) Sulphate ($\text{MnSO}_4$)

A manganese compound utilized as a fungicide.

Iron (${}_{26}\text{Fe}$)

The most abundant transition element in the Earth's crust ($5\%$ by weight), used in reinforced concrete, pylons, surgical instruments, and as an industrial catalyst.

Haber-Bosch Method

An industrial process that utilizes iron as a catalyst to convert nitrogen and hydrogen gases into ammonia gas.

Fischer-Tropsch Method

An industrial method using iron as a catalyst to convert water gas (a mixture of $\text{H}_2$ and $\text{CO}$) into liquid fuel.

Cobalt (${}_{27}\text{Co}$)

A magnetizable metal similar to iron, used in manufacturing magnets and modern car dry batteries.

Cobalt-60

A radioactive isotope of cobalt emitting highly penetrating gamma rays, used in food preservation, tumor diagnosis and treatment, and industrial flaw detection.

Nickel (${}_{28}\text{Ni}$)

A transition element used in rechargeable cadmium-nickel batteries, electroplating, acid-resistant steel alloys, heating coils (nickel-chromium), and oil hydrogenation.

Copper (${}_{29}\text{Cu}$)

The first metal discovered by humans; a Group 1B element used in electric cables due to high electrical conductivity, as well as in coins and bronze alloys.

Copper(II) Sulphate ($\text{CuSO}_4$)

A copper compound used as an insecticide, a fungicide, and a purifying agent in water treatment.

Fehling Solution

A copper-based solution used to test for glucose in urine samples, changing from blue to orange in the presence of sugar.

Zinc (${}_{30}\text{Zn}$)

A Group 2B transition series element primarily used for galvanizing other metals to shield them from oxidation and rust.

Galvanization

The industrial process of coating a metal surface with a protective layer of zinc to prevent rusting.

Zinc Oxide ($\text{ZnO}$)

A zinc compound widely used in the production of paints, rubber products, and cosmetics.

Zinc Sulphide ($\text{ZnS}$)

A zinc compound utilized in illuminating paints and X-ray screens.