Transition and Inner Transition Elements: Important Questions

Answer the following questions:

1.     What are transition metals? Give four examples.

2.     Explain the oxidation states of 4d series elements.

3.     What are inner transition elements?

4.     Justify the position of lanthanides and actinides in the periodic table.

5.     What are actinides? Give three examples.

6.     Why Gd³⁺ is colourless?

7.     Explain why compounds of Cu2+ are coloured but those of Zn2+ are colourless.

8.        Describe the preparation of potassium dichromate.

9.        What is lanthanide contraction and what are the effects of lanthanide contraction?

10.   complete the following

11. What are interstitial compounds?

12. Calculate the number of unpaired electrons in Ti³⁺ , Mn²⁺ and calculate the spin only magnetic moment.

13. Write the electronic configuration of Ce⁴⁺ and Co²⁺.

14. Explain briefly how +2 states becomes more and more stable in the first half of the first row transition elements with increasing atomic number.

15. Which is more stable? Fe³⁺ or Fe²⁺ - explain.

16. Explain the variation in E⁰_{M3+ /M2+} 3d series.

17. Compare lanthanides and actinides.

18. Explain why Cr²⁺ is strongly reducing while Mn³⁺ is strongly oxidizing.

19. Compare the ionization enthalpies of first series of the transition elements.

20. Actinoid contraction is greater from element to element than the lanthanoid contraction, why?

21. Out of Lu(OH)₃ and La(OH)₃ which is more basic and why?

22. Why europium (II) is more stable than Cerium (II)?

23. Why do zirconium and Hafnium exhibit similar properties?

24. Which is stronger reducing agent Cr²⁺ or Fe²⁺?

25. The E⁰_{M2+ /M} value for copper is positive. Suggest a possible reason for this.

26. predict which of the following will be coloured in aqueous solution Ti²⁺ , V³⁺ Sc⁴⁺, Cu⁺ ,Sc³⁺, Fe³⁺, Ni²⁺ and Co³⁺

27. Describe the variable oxidation state of 3d series elements.

28. Which metal in the 3d series exhibits +1 oxidation state most frequently and why?

29. Why first ionization enthalpy of chromium is lower than that of zinc?

30. Transition metals show high melting points why?