Transition Metals - Special Properties

Chemistry: AQA GCSE Higher, topic 1.1.27

Transition Metals - Special Properties

Because of their unique position in the periodic table, transition metals have some special properties that make them very useful for chemists:

Can form ions with different positive charges

Can form ions with different positive charges

  • For example:
  • Iron: Fe2+, Fe3+.
  • Copper: Cu+, Cu2+.
Can form different colour compounds

Can form different colour compounds

  • For example:
  • Copper(I) sulfate is white; copper(II) sulfate is blue.
Transition metals as catalysts

Transition metals as catalysts

  • For example:
  • Iron (Fe) is the catalyst used in the Haber process, which results in the production of ammonia.
  • Platinum (Pt) and rhodium (Rh) are used in catalytic converters in cars.

Test yourself on Transition Metals - Special Properties

  • Group 1 metals only form ions with 1 positive charge. Transition metals...

  • Platinum and rhodium are used in catalytic converters in cars. These are examples of transition metals being used as...

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