Lec.

Rana Hassan Tariq

TRANSITION ELEMENTS

CH#06
Q.1 Why transition elements are named so?
Ans: The d-block and f-block elements are called
transition elements because their properties
are in transition between the metallic elements
of f-block and non-metallic elements of p-block.
This is also the reason for placing them
between s and p-block of periodic table.
Example: I.E of transition elements is greater
than s-block and less than p-block elements.

Q. 2 What is paramagnetism?
Ans: Substances which are weakly attracted by strong
magnetic field are called paramagnetic. It is caused by
the presence of unpaired electrons.
E.g. Mn2+ and Fe3+ have 5 unpaired electrons and show
para- magnetism.
Q.3 What is substitutional alloy?
Ans: Due to similarity in their atomic sizes, some transition
metals are able to replace one another in metallic lattice
and form substitutional alloys.
e.g: Steel is an alloy in which iron atoms are substituted by
chromium, manganese, and nickel atoms.

Q. 4 What is diamagnetism and why Sc 3+

and Zn2+ions are diamagnetic?
Ans:

Substances which are weakly repelled by a

strong magnetic field are called diamagnetic
substances and this phenomenon is called
diamagnetism. It is due to presence of paired
electrons in an orbital.
Sc3+ and Zn2+ have completely filled 3p and 3d
shell respectively. Hence due to presence of
paired electrons they are diamagnetic.

Q.5 What is d-d transition?

Ans: It is a process by which transition elements show coloured compounds or ions. d-
orbital when involved in bonding split up into two energy levels. The electrons
residing in lower energy d-orbitals absorb a part of visible light and transmit the
remaining, thus jumping to higher energy d-orbits. The transmitted light imparts
colour to ions and this process is called d-d transition.
e.g. [Ti(H2O)6]3+ appears violet due to transmission of red and blue lights.
Q.6 Why the colour of [Ti(H2O)6]+3 is voilet?
 Lec.Rana Hassan Tariq

Ans: Electrons in lower energy orbitals absorb yellow light and jump to higher energy d-
orbitals allowing between blue and red light to be transmitted. Therefore solution of
[Ti (H2O)6]+3 ions looks violet.
Q.7 What are interstitial compounds?
Ans: Interstitial compounds are formed when small non-metal atoms like H,B,C,N etc.
enter the interstices of transition elements and impart useful features to them.
These compounds are non-stoichometric.

Q.8 What is co-ordination sphere?

Ans: The central metal atom along with its ligand in complex compound is known as co-
ordination sphere. It may be anionic, cationic or neutral.
Q.9 What is chelate?
Ans: When all the donor atoms of a polydentate ligand get coordinated with the same
metal ion, a complex is formed having one or more than one ring and hence is called
chelate. They are more stable than metal complexes.

O = C O O C = O

Pt

O = C O O C = O
D io x a la to P la tin a te ( II ) io n

Q.10 What is ligand?

Ans: The atoms ions or neutral molecules or group of atoms which surround the central
metal ion in a complex and donate electron pair to it are called ligands. They may be
monodentate, bidentate or polydentate depending on the no. of donor atoms.
e.g. H2O, CO , CN , OH etc.
Q.11 What is co-ordination no.?
Ans: The No. of lone pairs of electron provided by the ligands to the central metal atom or
ion in a complex compound is called coordination no. of the central metal atom or
ion.
Q.12 What are different parts of complex?
Ans: A complex compound is made up of
i) Simple cation and complex anion
ii) Complex cation and simple anion
The complex cation or anion is further composed of
i) Central metal atom or ion.
ii) Ligands.
Q.13 What is pig iron or cast iron?
Ans: Pig iron or cast iron is a commercial form of iron which contains 2.5% to 4.5% carbon
content in it.
It has the maximum carbon content among all commercial form of iron.
Q.14 What is steel also give its different types?
Ans: Steel is an alloy of iron containing 0.25% to 2.5% carbon and traces of S, P, Si and
Mn.
It is of three different types
1. Mild steel (0.1 to 0.2% C)
2. Medium carbon steel (0.2% to 0.7% C)
3. High carbon steel (0.7% to 1.5% C)
Q.15 What is wrought iron?
Ans: It is the purest form of commercial iron and has the lowest percentage of carbon i.e.
0.12% to 0.25%. It also has impurities like S, P, Si, Mn etc.
 Lec.Rana Hassan Tariq

Q.16 What are formulae of Potassium hexa cyano ferrate and Triommine trinitro
cobalt (III)?
Ans: (a) Potassium hexa cyano ferrate.
K4 [Fe (CN)6]
(b) Triommine trinitro cobalt (III)
[CO (NH3)3 (NO2)3]
Q.17 Why damaged tin plated iron should be avoided?
Ans: If tin layer on iron sheet is damaged, then in the presence of moisture galvanic cell is
established. In this cell iron acts as anode and tin as cathode. As oxidation occurs
then damaged tin plated iron gets corroded rapidly as compared to non-coated Fe
and should be avoided.

Q.18 What is ferromanganese and where it is used?

Ans: Ferromanganese is a mixture of iron, manganese and carbon. It is added to steel in
its manufacture because:-
Manganese desulphurises steel and imparts increased hardness and tensile strength
to it.
Carbon raises the carbon content to the required value.
Q.19 What is corrosion?
Ans: Corrosion is a process of chemical decay of metal due to action of surrounding
medium. Mostly the surrounding mediums are:
(i) Air (ii) Water

The corrosion in water is more severe because hydroxides formed at the surface are
dissolved in water.

Q.20 What is electrochemical theory?

Ans: A theory which explains why impurities accelerate the corrosion of metal is known as
electrochemical theory. It is based on the electrochemical theory. It suggests that
when an active metal comes in contact with a less active metal a galvanic cell is
established in which active metal serves as anode and hence corrodes away due to
oxidation.
e.g. when a piece of aluminium is joined with copper it corrodes away while copper
remains intact because Al is an active metal as compared to Cu.
Q.21 What is acidic and basic linning of open hearth furnace?
Ans: Open hearth furnace is used to prepare steel using cast iron, wrought iron or steel
scrap. It may be lined with acidic or basic substance.
Furnace with acidic lining like SiO2 is used when impurities are Mn, etc.

Furnace with basic lining like dolomite (CaO.MgO) is used when impurities are P, S
etc.

Q. 22What is sacrificial corrosion?

Ans: To protect a desired metal it is coated with a metal which is more reactive than it.
When the oxidation takes place then reactive metal corrodes and save the desired
metal called sacrificial corrosion.
e.g: Fe is coated with Zn to prevent its corrosion. When corrosion starts, oxidation occurs
at Zn and it corrodes away thus protecting Fe from corrosion.

Q.23 Give systematic name?

Ans: 1) K2 [Pt Cl6]
Potassium hexa chloro palatinate (II)
 Lec.Rana Hassan Tariq

2) [Pt (OH)2 (NH3)4]SO4

tetraammine dihydroxy platinum (II) sulphate.
Q.24 What is chromyl chloride test?
Ans: When solid potassium dichromate is heated with solid metal chloride in the presence
of conc. H2SO4 chromyl chloride is produced. This is called chromyl chloride test.
K2Cr2O7+6H2SO4 +4NaCl 2KHSO4 + 4NaHSO4 + 2CrO2Cl2+3H2O
(chromyl chloride)
Q.25 What is STADELERS PROCESS?
Ans: Stadelers process is used to prepare KMnO4 by passing Cl2 through green solution of
K2MnO4 until it becomes purple due to formation of KMnO4.
Cl2 oxidizes K2MnO4 to KMnO4.
2K2MnO4+Cl2 2KCl+2KMnO4.
Instead of Cl2, CO2 could also be used.
3K2MnO4+2H2O+4CO2 2KMnO4+MnO2+4KHCO3

Q.26 What is cathode coating?

Ans: Coating of less reactive metal lower in reactivity series over a sheet of more reactive
metal higher in reactivity series to prevent corrosion is known as cathode coating. If
coating is damaged and galvanic cell is established the upper metal acts as cathode.
Hence the name cathode coating is given.
e.g. Iron is coated with a layer of Tin to prevent corrosion.

Q.27 Why transition elements are tough, malleable and ductile?

Ans: Transition metals are tough malleable and ductile because apart from s-elections of
outermost shell the electrons of half filled d-orbitals also participate in bonding this
imparts good mechanical properties like toughness etc.
Q.28 How chromate ions are converted into dichromate ions?
Ans: Chromate (K2CrO4) is converted into dichromate (K 2Cr2O7) in the presence of conc.
H2SO4.
2CrO4-2 + 2H+ Cr2O7-2 + H2O
2K2CrO4 + H2SO4 K2CrO7 + K2SO4 + H2O
The above reaction is a reversible reaction and equilibrium shift towards right according to
Le-Chateliers Principle changing chromate ions into dichromate ions.