transitionmetal

Transition metals are elements in the d-block of the periodic table, generally located in groups 3 through 12. By the IUPAC definition, they are those elements that can form at least one stable ion with an incomplete d-subshell, which gives rise to variable oxidation states and the ability to form coordination complexes. Because of this, many sources group the d-block elements as transition metals, though some definitions exclude scandium and zinc depending on their common oxidation states.

Physically, transition metals are typically dense, shiny, and good conductors of heat and electricity. They usually have high melting and boiling points and are malleable and ductile. Chemically, they characteristically exhibit multiple oxidation states, enabling complex redox chemistry. Their partially filled d orbitals permit the formation of coordination compounds with ligands such as water and amines, often producing vividly colored compounds.

These metals show versatile chemistry and broad applications. They form a wide range of oxides, sulfides, and salts, and many are magnetic due to unpaired d electrons. They are central to many industrial processes, including the production of steel and other alloys, catalysis in processes like ammonia synthesis and hydrocarbon cracking, and catalytic converters in vehicles. Their compounds also find use in pigments, electronics, and medicine. The study of transition metals encompasses coordination chemistry, organometallic chemistry, and materials science, reflecting their structural diversity and reactivity.