What’s the
connection
between an
astronaut’s sun
visor, a
breathalyser and
some coloured gem
stones?
Answer: Transition Metals!
An astronaut’s sun visor is
covered in gold.
A breathalyser uses
chromium compounds.
Gem stones are compounds
of lots of different
transition metals
Learning questions:
LO
• What the transition metals?
• Where are they found in the periodic table?
• What trends are there in the transition metals?
• What kind of reaction do the transition metals
undertake?
Keywords:
Transition metals, oxidation, reduction, oxidation state, electrons, density,
trend, conductivity, reactivity.
What are the transition metals and where
are they found?
NK
Keywords:
Group 7, halogens,
Transition
metals, oxidation,
oxidation,reduction,
reduction,oxidation
sheilding,state,
electrons,
electrons,
density,
density,
trend,
electronic
trend,
conductivity,
structure,reactivity.
displacement reaction, reactivity, diatomic.
How do they react?
NK
• There are 6 experiments to do that test the properties
of the transition metals.
• Rotate around the circus using an activity card placed
at each station with the method to complete the
practical.
• Once all the activities have been tried, write a bulletpoint list of the properties of transition elements.
• Extension: contrast these properties with that of
Group 1 metals and write a few sentences to explain
the similarities and differences.
Trends in transition metals
• Have you got these properties? Check and get down any
you’ve missed:
• they are good conductors of heat and electricity
• they are less reactive than alkali metals such as sodium
• they have high melting points - but mercury is a liquid at
room temperature
• they are usually hard and tough
• they have high densities
CM
ATD
What do we use transition metals for?
• Use the periodic table to find 3 elements that
you know that are transition metals.
• With a partner write as many uses as you can
think of for each.
• Can you explain why we use them this way?
Keywords:
Transition metals, oxidation, reduction, oxidation state, electrons, density,
trend, conductivity, reactivity.
Weird properties of transition metals
NK
• They form coloured compounds.
• Their oxidation states (amount of electrons
they give away) can vary and so the colour of
their compounds changes.
• Some of them are also really good catalysts,
something that can speed up reactions.
Research the key properties of 4 CM
transition elements
• Use the worksheet shared with you to help
1. Describe the differences between the
transition metals and the alkali metals.
Symbol
Na
K
Cr
Fe
Cu
Melting
180.5
point (°C)
98
63
1907
1538
1084
Density
(g/cm3)
0.53
0.97
0.89
7.15
7.87
8.96
Hardness
(Moh
scale)
0.6
0.5
0.4
8.5
4
3
Weak
Weak
n/a
n/a
n/a
Tensile
strength
Li
Weak
1. What properties would you expect zinc to
have?