The Transition Metals

The Chemistry of Art > The Transition Metals

The chemical properties of the transition metals can be explained by their more complicated electronic configurations

Students learn to:

• • identify the block occupied by the transition metals in the Periodic Table
  • define the term transition element
  • explain why transition metals may have more than one oxidation state
  • account for colour changes in transition metal ions in terms of changing oxidation states
  • explain, using the complex ions of a transition metal as an example, why species containing transition metals in a high oxidation state will be strong oxidising agents

Students:

• • • process and present information from secondary sources by writing electron configurations of the first transition series in terms of sub-shells
    • perform a first-hand investigation to observe the colour changes of a named transition element as it changes in oxidation state
    • solve problems and process information from secondary sources to write half-equations and account for the changes in oxidation state
    • choose equipment, perform a first-hand investigation to demonstrate and gather first-hand information about the oxidising strength of KMnO₄

Extract from Chemistry Stage 6 Syllabus (Amended October 2002). © 2009, Board of Studies NSW.