The Latest

Some of the more well-known transitional metals include titanium, iron, manganese, nickel, copper, cobalt, silver, mercury and gold.

Three of the most noteworthy elements are iron, cobalt and nickel as they are only elements known to produce a magnetic field.

There are several properties identified in the transition elements that are not found in other elements, as a result of their partially filled d shell.

These include the formation of compounds whose colour is due to d-d electronic transitions, the formation of compounds in many oxidation states and the formation of many paramagnetic compounds due to the presence of unpaired d electrons.

Transition metals are generally hard and dense, and less reactive than any of the alkali metals. Some of the main shared properties of transition metals can be identified as the below:

• They form coloured compounds
• They are good conductors of heat and electricity
• They can be bent into shape easily
• They are less reactive than alkali metals
• They have high melting points
• They are usually hard and tough with high densities.

There are exceptions to this and not all transition metals will possess these properties though. 

Transition metals have a wide variety of uses, with some of the main ones listed below:

Iron is often made into steel, which is stronger and more easily shaped than iron on its own. It is widely used in construction materials, tools, vehicles and as a catalyst in the manufacture of ammonia.

Titanium often used in fighter aircrafts, artificial hips and pipes in nuclear power stations.

Copper because it is such a good conductor of electricity, copper is often used in electricity cables. It is easily bent and does not react with water so it is also often used to make water pipes.

Nickel nickel is mainly used in Stainless Steel.