Mohammed Salam Unit 13: LA C
Properties and reactions of transition metal complexes
What is a transition metal?
All transition metals are in the D – block element section which means that they have at least one
ion with a partially filled D sub shell for example, copper is a transition metal because it is a D – block
element where it has one ion with a partially filled D sub shell.
Vanadium (transition metal) Mercury (not a transition metal)
Solid liquid
[Ar] 4s2 3d3 [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2
Forms at least 1 ion with partially filled D sub Forms 1 ion with full D sub shell
shell
Yellow flame Red flame
Ligand: A species that possesses a single pair of electrons that it can donate to a central metal ion in
order to form a coordinate or dative bond in a complex ion for example water is a ligand.
Complex: A complex is made up of a metal ion in the centre surrounded by ligands that have formed
coordinate bonds with the metal for example hexaquacopper is a complex ion.
Dative bond: A coordinate covalent bond is another name for a dative bond. It is a type of chemical
bond in which one atom contributes a shared pair of electrons to the bond's formation.
Octahedral complex:
1
, Mohammed Salam Unit 13: LA C
Tetrahedral complex:
2
Properties and reactions of transition metal complexes
What is a transition metal?
All transition metals are in the D – block element section which means that they have at least one
ion with a partially filled D sub shell for example, copper is a transition metal because it is a D – block
element where it has one ion with a partially filled D sub shell.
Vanadium (transition metal) Mercury (not a transition metal)
Solid liquid
[Ar] 4s2 3d3 [Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2
Forms at least 1 ion with partially filled D sub Forms 1 ion with full D sub shell
shell
Yellow flame Red flame
Ligand: A species that possesses a single pair of electrons that it can donate to a central metal ion in
order to form a coordinate or dative bond in a complex ion for example water is a ligand.
Complex: A complex is made up of a metal ion in the centre surrounded by ligands that have formed
coordinate bonds with the metal for example hexaquacopper is a complex ion.
Dative bond: A coordinate covalent bond is another name for a dative bond. It is a type of chemical
bond in which one atom contributes a shared pair of electrons to the bond's formation.
Octahedral complex:
1
, Mohammed Salam Unit 13: LA C
Tetrahedral complex:
2
