Why are the transition metals in the middle of the periodic table, not in the groups?

After being half asleep for most of the chemistry lessons this year due to the appalling teacher I have just been starting to teach myself the syllabus in preparation for the GCSE's. I understand the theory about the groups (electrons in outer shell) but find myself puzzled about the reason why the transitions metals are not in these groups.

I have not found the answer in any of the revision guides I possess. I suppose this means that it could not be an exam question, and although I will not be studying chemistry further I am interested in the answer to this question.

Many thanks

Reply 1

~Kirsty~

1

don't worry about it...its to do with electrons, but i don't want to confuse you, as i know you will have learnt something dfifferent about electron shells than you do at GCSE.

But don't learn this but the transitiion metals have an electron shell called the d shell, this holds 10 electrons, and all the transition metals have a partially filled d shell. The group elements have full d shells, or no d shells.

Reply 2

shinyhappy

14

Yeah, basically what the lass above said. If you go on to do AS chem, you'll find out that you've been lied to about electron configuration. however it really isn't very interesting or useful to you, so I won't bother explaining.
Groups one and two have one and two electrons in their outer shell, respectively. Groups 3,4,5,6... etc, have that number of electrons in their outer shell. (in the case of the noble gases, they have a full outer shell.)
The transition metals have an 'extra' shell, as it were, that gets more full as you move to the right of the periodic table. These extra electrons floating around give them lots of useful properties, and make some of them quite reactive. It is also the reason that they formed coloured compounds (like copper sulphate, which is blue) the electrons that are vibrating absorb certain light frequencies, and not others, reflecting a particular colour.)

Reply 3

FPS Doug

1

shinyhappy

If you go on to do AS chem, you'll find out that you've been lied to about electron configuration.

Hardly a lie. More of a simplification.

Reply 4

Fly.

1

sarahjane48

After being half asleep for most of the chemistry lessons this year due to the appalling teacher I have just been starting to teach myself the syllabus in preparation for the GCSE's. I understand the theory about the groups (electrons in outer shell) but find myself puzzled about the reason why the transitions metals are not in these groups.

I have not found the answer in any of the revision guides I possess. I suppose this means that it could not be an exam question, and although I will not be studying chemistry further I am interested in the answer to this question.

Many thanks

I don't see what the problem is. The transition metals are in groups.

Reply 5

Christophicus

18

Fly.

I don't see what the problem is. The transition metals are in groups.

Yes, the transition block, but I think the poster was asking why not the conventional column group, like group 1,2 etc.

Reply 6

Fly.

1

Widowmaker

Yes, the transition block, but I think the poster was asking why not the conventional column group, like group 1,2 etc.

They are in the conventional column groups.

Reply 7

Christophicus

18

Fly.

They are in the conventional column groups.

Yeah okay. :rolleyes:

Reply 8

cobra

14

On any current periodic table the groups should now be numbered 1-18

Reply 9

Fly.

1

Widowmaker

Yeah okay. :rolleyes:

?? What the hell is that supposed to mean?

Reply 10

GuerillaBoy

That's why they are called transition metals - they don't quite fit basic 8 groups setup.

Reply 11

eggycal

all you need to know at GCSE Chemistry is that transition metals:

1. are good catalysts (no explanation needed), their are compounds also
2. form coloured compounds

Why are the transition metals in the middle of the periodic table, not in the groups?

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