Transition elements in the periodic table
Where they are, how many, and the two classes
1. The transition elements and their series
2. Just a few metals?
Iron, copper, gold, silver: you already know some transition elements. How many are there?
Pick the right answer
Predict: how many transition elements are there?
- A. About 10: the famous metals
- B. About 20
- C. More than 60: more than half of the known elements
الشرح
There are more than 60 transition elements, more than half the number of known elements. They fill the middle of the table between the (s) and (p) blocks, plus the two separate rows at the bottom.
3. In the middle of the table
Remember: the (s) and (p) blocks are on both sides of the long form of the table.
Element table
d-block, f-block
The transition elements occupy the middle of the periodic table between the (s) and (p) blocks. They include more than 60 elements, i.e. more than half the number of known elements.
So they're not a small club. They're the biggest part of the table.
4. Explore the table
Tap each highlighted element and read its block. Which ones are transition elements?
Element table
Ca, Fe, Ag, Nd, U, Ga
Reveal
- Ca: s-block. Not a transition element.
- Fe and Ag: d-block, in the middle. Transition elements.
- Nd and U: f-block, the two rows at the bottom. Nd is a lanthanide and U is an actinide. Transition elements too.
- Ga: p-block. Not a transition element.
5. Two classes
These elements can be classified into: 1- Main transition elements. 2- Inner transition elements. We'll study the main transition elements only.
Main transition elements
The d-block: the middle of the main table.
Inner transition elements
The f-block: the two rows at the bottom, the lanthanides and the actinides.
Element table
f-block
6. Main, inner or neither?
Tap the table to check where each element is. Then sort.
Element table
Ti, Ag, Ni, Ce, Nd, U, K, Br
Sort into groups
Sort each element.
TiAgNiCeNdUKBr
7. A new case
Pick the right answer
Element X is in period 5. It sits between strontium (group IIA, 2) and indium (group IIIA, 13). What is X?
- A. A main transition element (d-block)
- B. An inner transition element (f-block)
- C. A representative element of the p-block
- D. A representative element of the s-block
الشرح
X is a main transition element. In period 5, the d-block lies between the s-block, which ends at Sr (group IIA), and the p-block, which starts at In (group IIIA).
True or false?
The transition elements are less than half of the known elements.
الشرح
The transition elements are more than 60 elements, i.e. more than half the number of known elements, not less than half.
8. Summary
- Transition elements occupy the middle of the periodic table between the (s) and (p) blocks.
- They include more than 60 elements, i.e. more than half the number of known elements.
- Main transition elements (d-block) and inner transition elements (f-block: lanthanides and actinides).
Can you explain why 'transition elements are a few famous metals' is wrong?
Reveal
They include more than 60 elements, i.e. more than half the number of known elements: the whole middle of the table (d-block) plus the two rows at the bottom (f-block).