Question Video: Identifying the Characteristic That Does Not Describe Transition Elements | Nagwa Question Video: Identifying the Characteristic That Does Not Describe Transition Elements | Nagwa

Question Video: Identifying the Characteristic That Does Not Describe Transition Elements Chemistry • Third Year of Secondary School

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Which of the following properties is not true for transition elements? [A] Transition elements form compounds with catalytic activity. [B] Transition elements have high melting and boiling points. [C] Transition elements show variable oxidation states. [D] Transition elements form compounds that are often diamagnetic. [E] Transition elements form colored ions and compounds.

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Video Transcript

Which of the following properties is not true for transition elements? (A) Transition elements form compounds with catalytic activity. (B) Transition elements have high melting and boiling points. (C) Transition elements show variable oxidation states. (D) Transition elements form compounds that are often diamagnetic. (E) Transition elements form colored ions and compounds.

Transition elements are the elements found in the d block in the middle of the periodic table. Transition elements include metals like vanadium, iron, manganese, and copper. Let’s take a look at these answer choices one by one to determine which one is not true for transition elements.

Choice (A) is incorrect. Transition elements do form compounds with catalytic activity. For example, vanadium oxide catalyzes part of the contact process, which produces sulfur trioxide that eventually forms sulfuric acid.

Choice (B) is incorrect as well. Transition elements do have high melting and boiling points. For example, iron’s melting point is 1538 degrees Celsius, while its boiling point is 2862 degrees Celsius.

Choice (C), transition elements show variable oxidation states, is also a true statement. For example, manganese’s oxidation state in manganese oxide is plus two, while in potassium permanganate, it’s plus seven. In its elemental form, its oxidation state is zero.

Choice (E) is also a true statement. For example, the nickel ions in a nickel chloride solution give it a green color, while cobalt forms the compound cobalt chloride, which has a deep blue color.

The last remaining answer choice, choice (D), is the correct answer. Most transition elements form paramagnetic compounds, meaning they will be attracted by a magnet. Although some compounds with transition elements, such as cuprous chloride, are diamagnetic and are not attracted by magnets, these compounds are relatively rare.

So which of the following properties is not true for transition elements? That’s choice (D). Transition elements form compounds that are often diamagnetic.

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