Elements of the first transition series
Ten metals from Sc to Zn: scarce, yet important
1. The transition elements and their series
2. Scarce but valuable?
These ten metals form only nearly 7% of the earth's crust. So why does the book call them economically important?
Pick the right answer
First, predict: which of the ten is the most abundant in the earth's crust?
- A. Copper, Cu
- B. Iron, Fe
- C. Zinc, Zn
- D. Titanium, Ti
Explanation
Iron is the most abundant of the ten: about 5% by weight of the earth's crust, far ahead of the rest.
3. Ten elements, Z = 21 to 30
Remember: the first transition series is in period 4, after calcium. The 3d sublevel fills.
Element table
Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn
This series contains ten elements: scandium (Sc), titanium (Ti), vanadium (V), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn).
4. Walk along the series
Slide along the series, one element at a time.
Atomic number, Z 21
Position in the series 1
₂₁Sc: scandium, group IIIB. % wt in the earth's crust: 0.0026
5. How much is in the earth's crust?
| element | % wt (%) |
|---|---|
| Sc | 0.0026 |
| Ti | 0.66 |
| V | 0.02 |
| Cr | 0.014 |
| Mn | 0.11 |
| Fe | 5 |
| Co | 0.003 |
| Ni | 0.0089 |
| Cu | 0.0068 |
| Zn | 0.0078 |
All of these elements form nearly 7% of the weight of the earth's crust.
Iron towers over the rest. Most of the others are far below 1%.
Zoom in on the rare ones
| element | % wt (%) |
|---|---|
| Sc | 0.0026 |
| V | 0.02 |
| Cr | 0.014 |
| Mn | 0.11 |
| Co | 0.003 |
| Ni | 0.0089 |
| Cu | 0.0068 |
| Zn | 0.0078 |
6. Scarce, yet important
These elements form nearly 7% of the weight of the earth's crust, but they have high economic importance.
True or false?
A metal is important because there is a lot of it in the earth's crust.
Explanation
A metal's importance does not come from its amount: these ten elements form only nearly 7% of the earth's crust, yet they have high economic importance because of their properties and uses.
Contrast case: scandium (preview of the uses lessons)
Scandium is the rarest of the ten (0.0026%). Yet adding a little scandium to aluminum gives a light and very hard alloy.
7. Order and symbols
Put in order
Put these elements in order of increasing atomic number.
- V
- Cr
- Mn
- Fe
- Co
- Ni
Fill in the blanks
The element of the first transition series with Z = 28 is _____ (symbol).
Explanation
Fe (26), Co (27), Ni (28).
8. Read the table
| Element | % wt |
|---|---|
| Sc | 0.0026 |
| Ti | 0.66 |
| V | 0.02 |
| Cr | 0.014 |
| Mn | 0.11 |
| Fe | 5 |
| Co | 0.003 |
| Ni | 0.0089 |
| Cu | 0.0068 |
| Zn | 0.0078 |
Pick the right answer
Using the table, which element is the second most abundant of the ten?
- A. Manganese, Mn
- B. Titanium, Ti
- C. Copper, Cu
- D. Zinc, Zn
Explanation
In the table, Fe has the largest value (5%) and Ti the second largest (0.66%); Mn follows with 0.11%.
True or false?
Cobalt is one of the rarest elements of the series in the crust, so it has little economic importance.
Explanation
Cobalt is rare in the crust (0.003%), but being scarce does not mean little economic importance: the elements of this series are scarce, yet they have high economic importance.
9. Summary
- Ten elements: Sc (21), Ti (22), V (23), Cr (24), Mn (25), Fe (26), Co (27), Ni (28), Cu (29), Zn (30).
- Iron is the most abundant of them (about 5% of the crust).
- They are scarce, yet they have high economic importance.
| Element | Z | % wt |
|---|---|---|
| Sc | 21 | 0.0026 |
| Ti | 22 | 0.66 |
| V | 23 | 0.02 |
| Cr | 24 | 0.014 |
| Mn | 25 | 0.11 |
| Fe | 26 | 5 |
| Co | 27 | 0.003 |
| Ni | 28 | 0.0089 |
| Cu | 29 | 0.0068 |
| Zn | 30 | 0.0078 |
Can you explain why scandium matters to industry, though it is the rarest of the ten?