earlytransitionmetal

Early transition metals is a term used in inorganic chemistry to describe the first portion of the transition-metal series on the periodic table. In common usage, it refers to scandium (Sc), titanium (Ti), vanadium (V), chromium (Cr), and manganese (Mn). These elements lie on the left side of the d-block and have relatively low d-electron counts. They can exhibit several oxidation states, enabling diverse chemistry, from oxides to coordination and organometallic complexes.

Chemistry and oxidation states: Sc typically forms +3; Ti mainly +4; V commonly +5, +4, and +2; Cr +3 and +6; Mn +2, +3, +4, and +7. They form oxides such as Sc2O3, TiO2, VO2, Cr2O3, and MnO2, and they participate in a wide range of halides, oxo compounds, and carbonyls. The d-electron configurations confer a capacity for stabilizing multiple oxidation states with various ligands, which underpins their catalytic and coordination chemistry.

Industrial relevance: Titanium dioxide TiO2 is a major white pigment, and titanium metal is important in aerospace and structural alloys. Scandium is used in specialized aluminum-scandium alloys. Vanadium and chromium contribute to steel alloys and catalysts; vanadium catalysts and chromium oxide catalysts support oxidation and polymerization processes. Manganese is used as an alloying element in steel and as MnO2 in batteries and other redox systems.

Notes: The boundary between early and late transition metals varies by context; some sources extend the category to neighboring elements in the 4d and 5d blocks. In many contexts, “early” refers to Sc through Mn, emphasizing high oxidation-state chemistry and catalytic potential.