Headings Search Questions 
gcsescience.com 18 gcsescience.com
The Transition Metals.
The transition metals occupy the central block of the periodic table.
They are not a group (there is no
group
number)
but are a collection of metals with common properties.
They are sometimes called a family of
metals.
They do not all have the same
number of electrons in their outer shell,
and so they have different valencies,
forming 1+, 2+, or 3+ ions with non-metals.
Some elements may have more than one
valency
and appear in different oxidation states.
This is due to the properties of the fourth electron shell
which can have a maximum of 18 electrons.
gcsescience.com Contents The Periodic Table Index Quizzes gcsescience.com
Copyright © 2008 Dr. Colin France. All Rights Reserved.