Transition Elements (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Co-ordinated Sciences (Double Award)): Revision Note

Transition elements

• Transition elements are found in the centre of the Periodic Table between Group 2 and Group 3

• Most metals are transition elements and have properties typical of a metal:

  • They are lustrous

  • They are hard and strong

  • They conduct heat and electricity

  • They have high melting points

    • Except mercury: This has a low melting point which is why it is a liquid at room temperature

The transition elements in the Periodic Table

Transition elements are found in the middle of the Periodic Table

• There are some properties that are only typical of transition elements :

  •  They form ions with different charges

    • E.g. Iron forms Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions

  • They are useful as catalysts

    • E.g. Iron is used as the catalyst in the Haber process

• They form coloured compounds 

  • E.g. Copper forms blue copper sulfate, black copper oxide and green copper carbonate

Coloured compounds formed by transition metal ions

The colours produced by some transition elements ions