Basics

Periodic Table
Group 1: Alkali metals
Group 0: Noble Gases
Group 7: Halogens
Transition metals
The Table

Industrial
Organic Chem.
Analytic

Transition Metals

The transition metals take up the central block of the periodic table, and do not have one group. Iron, for example has many different ions: iron(III) has 3 electrons missing from the outer shell and is Fe3+ but you are just as likely to find iron(II).

Properties and use

  • High melting points and densities
  • Usually shiny.
  • Good conductors of heat and electricity.
  • They form compounds that are generally coloured
  • Titanium (Ti) is a transition metal widely used for its properties. It is strong but relatively light - perfect for use in the manufacture of aircraft.

    Copper (Cu) is widely used in making wire, because it is ductile (a property of all transition metals) and conducts electricity very well

    Transition metals are also used widely as catalysts, for example, iron is used in the Haber process to produce ammonia.