The transition elements Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry (9–1) revision
Not started
Learn it
In plain words
The big block in the middle of the Periodic Table holds the metals you actually know: iron, copper, nickel, zinc's neighbours. These transition elements are the tough, dense, useful ones, and their compounds are often brightly coloured.
Three things to know
- Compared with Group 1 metals, transition elements are harder and stronger, and have higher densities and higher melting points.
- They form coloured compounds, and many act as catalysts, as elements or in compounds: iron in the Haber process.
- Their ions can have more than one charge (oxidation number): iron forms Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺.
Tips and tricks
- Four words to remember: dense, high-melting, coloured, catalysts.
- A coloured compound is a clue. Blue or green usually means copper; iron compounds are green or brown.
It lands in your notebook with its questions as flashcards.
The transition elements: 5 questions and answers
These are the quiz’s questions. Do the quiz first, then come back here for the ones that got you.
Which is a typical property of transition elements?
Many of their compounds are coloured.
Compared with Group 1 metals, transition elements have what?
They are hard, dense metals with high melting points.
Which of these is a transition element?
Iron is in the central block of the Periodic Table.
Iron forms Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions. What does this show about transition elements?
Group 1 metals only ever form 1+ ions.
Many transition elements and their compounds are used as what?
Iron and vanadium(V) oxide are examples.
Quiz
5 questions
Tap an answer and you’ll see straight away whether it’s right, and why.
Worksheet
3 questions, 6 marks. Write your answers on paper, then check them.
The transition elements
Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry (9–1) 0971 · 6 marks · papermunch.org
Name ______________________________ Date ______________
Give three ways in which transition elements differ from the Group 1 metals.[3]
Show answerHide answer
Any three: higher density; higher melting point; harder and stronger; coloured compounds; act as catalysts; ions with more than one oxidation number; less reactive.
Name the transition element used as the catalyst in the Haber process.[1]
Show answerHide answer
Iron.
Copper(II) sulfate is blue and sodium sulfate is white. State what this suggests about copper and sodium.[2]
Show answerHide answer
Copper is a transition element (they form coloured compounds); sodium is not.
Answers: The transition elements
- 1. Any three: higher density; higher melting point; harder and stronger; coloured compounds; act as catalysts; ions with more than one oxidation number; less reactive.
- 2. Iron.
- 3. Copper is a transition element (they form coloured compounds); sodium is not.