Periodic Table: Transition Metal Charges: Study with Video Lessons, Practice Problems & Examples

Type 2 metals, primarily transition metals, exhibit multiple positive charges due to their electron configurations. While many transition metals can have varying charges, some, like scandium, silver, cadmium, and zinc, possess only one charge. For instance, manganese can have charges ranging from +2 to +7, depending on its bonding context. Understanding these charge variations is crucial for predicting chemical behavior and reactions involving these metals.

Periodic Table: Transition Metals Charges Concept 1

So remember, type 2 metals are metals that possess multiple charges. Now we're going to say most transition metals have varying positive charges because of their electron arrangements around the nucleus. Now, there's going to be more advanced explanations for this later on, but we'll discuss them in much later chapters. So just remember, when it comes to type 2 metals, a majority of them are the transition metals. They have multiple charges. So here if we take a look, we have some of the most common types of transition metals, and what we need to realize is that although many of them have multiple charges, there are quite a few that do possess only one charge. So, for example, scandium, which is in group 3 or 3b, it's plus 3, and there are some similar chemical properties going on for elements within that group. Because scandium is plus 3, that means the other metals that are in this group with it are also plus 3. But then, of course, when you look at other transition metals, you're going to see a bunch of charges like, manganese, for example, could be plus 2, plus 3, plus 4, plus 5, or even plus 7. Now the way we can tell which one of these charges manganese will have will be dependent on the other element it's connected to. We'll learn about that later on. But just realize here that these transition metals are called transition metals because they have a bunch of possible charges. Now, besides the elements in group 3b or 3, we also have silver, cadmium, and zinc. Although they're transition metals as well, they also have only one particular charge. So silver when it's an ion, it's going to be plus 1. Cadmium and zinc, they're both in the same group again, so they're going to be similar to each other. Both of them will be plus 2 when they do have a charge. So again, transition metals, a lot of them have multiple possible charges, and because of that, they're characterized as being type 2 metals. Some of the transition metals, the ones in red, they possess only one charge. They are transition metals, but they're not type 2 metals because they don't have multiple charges. So keep this in mind when we're confronting different types of transition metals. Some have the potential to have multiple charges.

Periodic Table: Transition Metals Charges Example 1

So if we look at this example question, it says predict the major charge of an ion if it were discovered to be in period 10, group 3 b. Alright. So something that might jump out at you when you look at this question is the fact that we're talking about a period 10 element. But we know that when we look at a periodic table, there's only 7 rows. So our periodic tables only go up to period 7. So where is this period 10 coming from? Well, remember that I discussed earlier that the periodic table is dynamic. It changes over time because we are either going to discover new elements or create new elements. The number of rows will over time increase, so there is a chance that we will create an element, or maybe there's an element that already exists that is located in period 10. But that's not the important part of this question. The important part is the group that it's in. It's in group 3 b. So remember we talked about this up above, group 3 b, this contains the element scandium, and it has a charge of plus 3. And we said that there's something special about that group 3 b. The other metals in that group would also possess a charge of plus 3. So here, that would mean that option e would be my correct choice. So remember, a lot of the transition metals have multiple charges, but there are some patterns that we can observe when looking at different transition metals, one of them being elements from group 3 b having a charge of plus 3.

What is the likely charge of the element with an atomic number of 47?

• A. +4
• B. +3
• C. -1
• D. +1
• E. +2

How many electrons would the cadmium ion possess?  

• A. 50
• B. 48
• C. 46
• D. 52
• E. 30

Here’s what students ask on this topic:

What are type 2 metals and why do they have multiple charges?

Type 2 metals, primarily transition metals, exhibit multiple positive charges due to their electron configurations. These metals have partially filled d-orbitals, which allow them to lose different numbers of electrons, resulting in various oxidation states. For example, manganese can have charges ranging from +2 to +7. This variability in charges is crucial for understanding their chemical behavior and reactions. Some transition metals, like scandium, silver, cadmium, and zinc, have only one charge due to their stable electron configurations. Understanding these charge variations helps in predicting the reactivity and bonding of these metals in different chemical contexts.

Why do some transition metals have only one charge?

Some transition metals have only one charge due to their stable electron configurations. For instance, scandium (Sc) in group 3B has a +3 charge, while silver (Ag) has a +1 charge, and both cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) have a +2 charge. These metals achieve a stable electron configuration by losing a specific number of electrons, resulting in a single, consistent oxidation state. This stability is due to the complete or nearly complete filling of their d-orbitals, which minimizes the energy required to remove additional electrons. As a result, these metals do not exhibit the multiple charges seen in other transition metals.

How can you determine the charge of a transition metal in a compound?

The charge of a transition metal in a compound can be determined by considering the overall charge balance of the compound and the known charges of other elements or ions present. For example, in the compound FeCl₃, chlorine (Cl) has a -1 charge. Since there are three chlorine atoms, the total negative charge is -3. To balance this, iron (Fe) must have a +3 charge. Additionally, the context of the chemical reaction and the specific bonding environment can influence the oxidation state of the transition metal. Understanding these factors helps in accurately determining the charge of the metal.

What are some common transition metals with multiple charges?

Common transition metals with multiple charges include iron (Fe), which can have +2 and +3 charges, copper (Cu) with +1 and +2 charges, and manganese (Mn) with charges ranging from +2 to +7. These metals exhibit multiple oxidation states due to their ability to lose different numbers of electrons from their d-orbitals. This variability in charges allows them to participate in a wide range of chemical reactions and form various compounds. Understanding the common charges of these metals is essential for predicting their behavior in different chemical contexts.

Why is understanding the charges of transition metals important in chemistry?

Understanding the charges of transition metals is crucial in chemistry because it helps predict their chemical behavior, reactivity, and the types of compounds they can form. Transition metals often exhibit multiple oxidation states, which influence their bonding and interactions with other elements. This knowledge is essential for tasks such as balancing chemical equations, understanding redox reactions, and designing chemical syntheses. Additionally, the variable charges of transition metals play a significant role in catalysis, materials science, and biochemistry, making it a fundamental concept for students and professionals in these fields.