1. What’s the connection between an astronaut’s sun visor, a breathalyser and some coloured gem stones?
Answer: Transition Metals!
An astronaut’s sun visor is covered in gold.
A breathalyser uses chromium compounds.
Gem stones are compounds of lots of different transition metals

2. Learning questions: What the transition metals?LO
Learning questions:
What the transition metals?
Where are they found in the periodic table?
What trends are there in the transition metals?
What kind of reaction do the transition metals undertake?
Keywords:
Transition metals, oxidation, reduction, oxidation state, electrons, density, trend, conductivity, reactivity.

3. What are the transition metals and where are they found?NK
Keywords:
Transition metals, oxidation, reduction, oxidation state, electrons, density, trend, conductivity, reactivity.
Keywords:
Group 7, halogens, oxidation, reduction, sheilding, electrons, density, trend, electronic structure, displacement reaction, reactivity, diatomic.

4. How do they react? NK
There are 6 experiments to do that test the properties of the transition metals.
Rotate around the circus using an activity card placed at each station with the method to complete the practical.
Once all the activities have been tried, write a bullet- point list of the properties of transition elements.
Extension: contrast these properties with that of Group 1 metals and write a few sentences to explain the similarities and differences.

5. Trends in transition metalsCM
Have you got these properties? Check and get down any you’ve missed:
they are good conductors of heat and electricity
they are less reactive than alkali metals such as sodium
they have high melting points - but mercury is a liquid at room temperature
they are usually hard and tough
they have high densities

6. What do we use transition metals for?
Use the periodic table to find 3 elements that you know that are transition metals.
With a partner write as many uses as you can think of for each.
Can you explain why we use them this way?
Keywords:
Transition metals, oxidation, reduction, oxidation state, electrons, density, trend, conductivity, reactivity.

7. Weird properties of transition metalsNK
They form coloured compounds.
Their oxidation states (amount of electrons they give away) can vary and so the colour of their compounds changes.
Some of them are also really good catalysts, something that can speed up reactions.

8. Research the key properties of 4 transition elementsCM
Use the worksheet shared with you to help
For worksheet

9. What properties would you expect zinc to have?
Describe the differences between the transition metals and the alkali metals.
What properties would you expect zinc to have?
Symbol Li Na K Cr Fe Cu
Melting point (°C)
180.5 98 63
1907
1538
1084
Density (g/cm3)
   0.53
0.97
0.89
7.15
7.87
8.96
Hardness (Moh scale)
   0.6
0.5
0.4
8.5 4 3
Tensile strength
Weak
n/a