IGCSE Coordinated Science: Transition Metals

IGCSE Coordinated Science: Transition Metals

Transition Metals

1. Describe the transition elements as a collection of metals having high densities, high melting points and forming coloured compounds, and which, as elements and compounds, often act as catalysts.

Here is a Periodic Table

The middle block elements, basically the ones in Yellow starting from Sc and ending in Uub are known as transition metals or if you get to IB, we commonly refer them to “d block elements”.

Transition metals have properties which include:

• They form colored compounds
• They tend to have high melting points
• They tend to have high densities
• They often act as catalysts to speed up reactions

Examples include: Iron in the Haber Process and Vanadium Oxide in the Contact Process