AQA GCSE Chemistry contents

Unit 1 · Atomic Structure & The Periodic Table

Transition Metals [Chemistry only]

1 min read · part of the full Exam Guide

Comparison with Group 1

  • The block of metals between Group 2 and Group 3: examples in the spec are chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel and copper
  • Compared with Group 1 they are harder, stronger and denser, have higher melting points, and are much less reactive with oxygen, water and halogens
    • Iron rusts slowly over days; sodium reacts with water in seconds
Property Group 1 metals Transition metals
Melting point low (sodium 98 °C) high (iron 1538 °C)
Density low, float on water high
Hardness and strength soft, cut with a knife hard and strong
Reactivity very reactive with oxygen, water, halogens react slowly or not at all
Ions always +1+1 more than one charge, e.g. Fe2+\text{Fe}^{2+} and Fe3+\text{Fe}^{3+}
Compounds white or colourless coloured
  • Typical transition metal properties:
    • Ions with different charges: copper(I) oxide Cu2O\text{Cu}_2\text{O} and copper(II) oxide CuO
    • Coloured compounds: copper(II) sulfate is blue, iron(III) compounds are orange-brown, potassium manganate(VII) is purple
    • Useful as catalysts: iron in the Haber process, nickel in hydrogenating oils, manganese(IV) oxide in decomposing hydrogen peroxide

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