Transition metals

• Chemistry
• Secondary Education

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Topic 7 - Metals

Transition Metals

10 November 2025

How do you feel today?

😒🙁😐🙂😃

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• I will know the physical and chemical properties of transition elements.
• I will understand why transition elements form coloured compounds. 
• I will be able to write the difference between alkali metals and transition metals.

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Which of the following transition metals does your smartphone have?

Give at least two transition metals that 

your smartphone has.

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Elements in our Smartphones

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Work in pairs: Do Activity 1 in your LAP sheets.

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The Transition Elements

periodictable.com

Which of the transition elements is used in industry for wiring, coins, and in brass and bronze alloys?

1. silver
2. copper
3. zinc
4. gold

Which of the transition elements is used recently in 

body-piercing jewellery?

1. zinc
2. silver
3. zirconium
4. molybdenum

Which of the transition elements is the only metal element that is liquid at room temperature? It would be great fun to play with if it weren't so poisonous.

1. rhodium
2. mercury
3. tungsten
4. molybdenum

Which transition element is extremely hard to melt, making it useful in high-temperature applications, such as spark plug electrodes?

1. zinc
2. manganese
3. iridium
4. ruthenium

Based on the previous activity, 

cite at least one physical property of 

transition elements.

Properties of Transition Elements

Physical Property

Chemical Property

lustrous (shiny)

hard and strong

act as catalysts

high densities

high melting points

conduct heat and electricity

form coloured compounds 

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Physical Properties

lustrous

hard and strong

highly dense

electrically conductive

thermally conductive

hard to melt (high melting point) EXCEPT Mercury

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Chemical Properties

Transition Metals act as catalysts.

Iron:               Used in the Haber process

Nickel:           Used for the hydrogenation of vegetable oils

Copper:         Used in the oxidation of alcohols

Platinum, Palladium, and Rhodium:     frequently used in catalytic converters to convert harmful emissions like carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide and reduce nitrogen oxides

Vanadium(V) oxide:        Used in the Contact Process

Manganese:                      Manganese(II) ions can catalyse oxidation reactions

Manganese dioxide:         Used to catalyse the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide. 

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Chemical Properties

Transition Metals form coloured compounds.

Transition Metals form ions with different charges (Variable Oxidation Numbers).

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Why the colours?

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Why the colours?

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Work in pairs: 

Do Activity 1, Questions 2 to 7.

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• I will know the physical and chemical properties of transition elements.
• I will understand why transition elements form coloured compounds. 
• I will be able to write the difference between alkali metals and transition metals.

How well did you participate 

in the lesson today?

05

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Presents a new problem or scenario that requires students to apply their knowledge. For instance, after studying ecosystems, the teacher might ask students to explore the effects of an oil spill.

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Assesses student comprehension through a worksheet, quiz, a lab report, or a concluding class discussion.

How well did you enjoy the lesson today?

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