The dark blue area on the table are the transition metals.

The Transition Metals are the largest group in the periodic table. They are metals with ‘typical’ properties. They contain many of the most well known metals such as gold, silver, and titanium. Many have wondered why this group of the table is so large. The answer to this question is actually quite simple. It is becuase the elements in this area all have very similar properties and as a result they have been catagorized into the same group. As a direct result of this being such a large group there are many special and unique features that make it different from all the other groups. For example, the other groups all have similar valence shell numbers however the transition metals have almost no similarity between their valence electrons. Below we have included many physical and chemical properties of transition metals as well as a few very cool uses of transition metals.

- Hard, dense, and shiny

- Good conductors of heat and electricity

- Malleable

- Ductile

- Iron, Colbolt, and Nickel are magnetic

- Boiling points range from 356.58˚ to 5660˚ C which is considered very high periodic table of elements very few elements have higher boiling points than the transition metals.

-Melting points range from -38.87˚ to 3410˚C which is considered very high periodic table of elements very few elements have higher melting points than the transition metals.

- Less reactive than both the alkali metals and alkaline earth metals

- Are important catalysts in industrial plants/workplaces

- Can form compounds with more than one formula

- Have several common oxidation states

- Can bond using both of the two outermost shells

- Orbitals can hold up to 18 or 32 electrons

- Platinum cuts down pollution from cars

- Cobalt is used to treat cancer patients

- Copper is used in pipes and wire

- Titanium oxide is used in white paint

- Tungsten is used for filaments in light bulbs

- Transition metals are very useful in batteries

- Mercury is used in both thermometers and barometers

- Mercury is also the only element in the transition metals with relatively low boiling and melting points, also while all other elements in the transition metal group have either cubic or hexagonal crystal structures, mercury has a rhombohedra crystal structure

- Water tanks are coated with zinc

- The elements towards the bottom left are more metallic, and the elements towards the top right are less metallic

- The elements towards the bottom left have larger atoms, and the elements towards the top right have smaller atoms.

- Iron, cobalt and nickel are the only elements known to create a magnetic field

To find detailed information for each specific element in the transition metal group click here.