Transition metal

The transition metals are the 30 chemical elements with the atomic number 21 to 30, 39 to 48, and 71 to 80. Their name comes from their position in the periodic table of elements, which represents the successive addition of one electron in the d orbital of the atoms on going from one element to the next across a period. The transition metals are chemically defined as "the elements that form at least one ion with a partially filled d sub-shell. "

Chemical properties

The transition elements generally have a high density and a high melting and boiling point. These properties are due to the ability of the electrons in the d shell to delocalise in the metal lattice. In metal substances the greater the number of electrons shared between the nuclei, the stronger the metal.

Here are four common properties of transition metals:

• they form coloured compounds;

• they have many oxidation states;

• they are good catalysts;

• they can form complexes.

Source: © Wikipedia