Element Infographics – Transition Metals

This graphic looks at some general properties of the transition metals – I had a little less space to work with than with the previous graphics, on account of the large number of elements that the transition metals encompass, but hopefully what’s included is still of use.

Now, strictly speaking, zinc, cadmium and mercury aren’t to be considered transition metals. The IUPAC definition of a transition metal states that it must be ‘an element whose atom has an incomplete d sub-shell, or gives rise to cations with an incomplete d sub-shell‘. Zinc, cadmium and mercury all have the electronic configuration d¹⁰s²; although they commonly form +2 ions, these involve the loss of the s electrons, so they still wind up having a complete d sub-shell. However, they can also exist in a +1 oxidation state, and for this, and other reasons, they are often still included in discussions of the transition elements.

There wasn’t space to fit uses for each element in, unlike with the previous element infographics, but many of the transition metals find uses in catalysis; coloured compounds are also frequently used to make coloured glass. Generally, transition metals and their alloys are commonly found being used in construction, wiring and piping.

To download the high resolution pdf, click here. For the infographics for the other groups in the Periodic Table, click on the infographics section of the site.

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