Families Of Elements II – Transition & Rare Earth Elements SS2 Chemistry Lesson Note

TRANSITION ELEMENTS

These are elements found in groups II and III of the periodic table. The first transition series consists of elements: Scandium (Sc), Titanium (Ti), Vanadium (V), Chromium (Cr), Manganese (Mn), Iron (Fe), Cobalt (Co), Nickel (Ni), Copper (Cu) and Zinc (Zn). 

Transition elements have the following properties:

1. High tensile strength 
2. High melting and boiling points
3. Variable oxidation states
4. Formation of coloured ions
5. Formation of complex ions 
6. Paramagnetic in mixture
7.  Catalytic ability

LANTHANIDES (RARE EARTH ELEMENTS):

These are found in period six. This series begins with Lanthanum (La) and ends with Lutetium (Lu). They are altogether 15 and resemble one another greatly.

ACTINIDES AND THE ARTIFICIAL ELEMENTS

The actinides are similar to the Lanthanides. They are found in the seventh period, which starts with Actinium (Ac) and ends with Lawrencium, (Lr). The famous Uranium is in this group.

The elements with an atomic number from 93 to 103 are known as the artificial elements. This is because they do not occur naturally but are formed during nuclear reactions.

ASSIGNMENT 

1. Hydrogen can be placed in groups I or VII. Explain
2. Write the electronic configuration of the following element and state the group and period to which they belong: 6C, 11Na, 14S, 18Ar