Transition Metals
Revise Transition Metals for GCSE Chemistry with this free worksheet and full mark scheme — Foundation and Higher exam-style questions with worked answers for AQA, Edexcel and OCR. A separate (triple) chemistry topic: transition metals form coloured compounds, act as catalysts and can have more than one ion charge.
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These worksheets and mark schemes are original, written for Virtus Academy and checked against the current AQA, Edexcel and OCR specifications. Every worksheet comes with a full mark scheme.
Topic overview
Transition metals occupy the block between groups 2 and 3 in the periodic table. This is a Triple-only topic.
Compared with group 1 metals they have higher melting points and higher densities, are stronger and harder, and are much less reactive. They do not react as vigorously with water or oxygen.
They also have three characteristic properties that group 1 metals lack: they can form ions with different charges, their compounds are often coloured, and they are useful as catalysts. Iron is used as a catalyst in the Haber process, and copper compounds are typically blue.
Revision notes
Comparison with group 1
Transition metals have higher melting points and higher densities than group 1 metals.
They are stronger and harder. They are much less reactive, so they do not react as vigorously with water or oxygen.
Variable oxidation states
Transition metals can form ions with different charges.
Iron, for example, forms Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions. This is not possible for group 1 metals, which always form ions with a 1+ charge.
Coloured compounds and catalysis
Transition metal compounds are often coloured — copper compounds are typically blue and iron compounds green or orange.
They are useful as catalysts: iron in the Haber process, and nickel in the hydrogenation of alkenes.
Key points
- Transition metals sit between groups 2 and 3.
- They have higher melting points than group 1 metals.
- They are much less reactive than group 1 metals.
- They form ions with different charges.
- Their compounds are often coloured.
- They are useful as catalysts.
Worked examples
Example 1
Give three ways transition metals differ from group 1 metals. [3 marks]
Model answer
They have higher melting points and densities (1 mark). They are much less reactive (1 mark). They can form ions with different charges, and their compounds are often coloured (1 mark).
Example 2
Give one example of a transition metal used as a catalyst and state the reaction. [2 marks]
Model answer
Iron (1 mark), used as a catalyst in the Haber process to make ammonia (1 mark).
Example 3
Explain why transition metals are more suitable than group 1 metals for making structural materials. [2 marks]
Model answer
Transition metals are stronger, harder and have higher melting points (1 mark), and they are much less reactive, so they do not react vigorously with water or air (1 mark).
Common mistakes
Saying transition metals are more reactive than group 1.
They are much less reactive.
Saying they always form ions with one charge.
Forming ions with different charges is one of their characteristic properties.
Forgetting the catalyst property.
It is one of the three characteristic features and is frequently examined.
Confusing them with group 2 metals.
Transition metals are the block between groups 2 and 3.
Exam tips
- Learn the three characteristic properties as a set.
- Give a specific catalyst example such as iron in the Haber process.
- Compare directly with group 1 when asked for differences.
- Remember this is a Triple-only topic.
Key terms
- Transition metal
- A metal in the block between groups 2 and 3.
- Catalyst
- A substance that speeds up a reaction without being used up.
- Variable charge
- The ability to form ions with different charges.
- Haber process
- The industrial process making ammonia, catalysed by iron.
Related topics
Written and reviewed against the current AQA, Edexcel and OCR specifications. Spotted an error? Let us know.