CBSE Class-12 Chemistry Quick Revision Notes

Chapter-08: The D and F-Block Elements

• The d -Block elements:

a) The elements lying in the middle of periodic table belonging to groups 3 to 12 are
known as d – block elements.
b) Their general electronic configuration is (n – 1)d1-10 ns1-2 where (n – 1) stands for
penultimate (last but one) shell.
• Transition element:
a) A transition element is defined as the one which has incompletely filled d orbitals in
its ground state or in any one of its oxidation states.
b) Zinc, cadmium, mercury are not regarded as transition metals due to completely filled
d – orbital.
• The f-Block elements:
The elements constituting the f -block are those in which the 4 f and 5 f orbitals are
progressively filled in the latter two long periods.
• Lanthanoids:
The 14 elements immediately following lanthanum, i.e., Cerium (58) to Lutetium (71) are
called lanthanoids. They belong to first inner transition series. Lanthanum (57) has similar
properties. Therefore, it is studied along with lanthanoids.
• Actinoids:
The 14 elements immediately following actinium (89), with atomic numbers 90
(Thorium) to 103 (Lawrencium) are called actinoids. They belong to second inner
transition series. Actinium (89) has similar properties. Therefore, it is studied along with
actinoids.
• Four transition series:
a) 3d – transition series. The transition elements with atomic number 21(Sc) to 30(Zn) and
having incomplete 3d orbitals is called the first transition series.
b) 4d – transition series. It consists of elements with atomic number 39(Y) to 48 (Cd) and
having incomplete 4d orbitals. It is called second transition series.
c) 5d – transition series. It consists of elements with atomic number 57(La), 72(Hf) to
80(Hg) having incomplete 5d orbitals. It is called third transition series.
d) 6d – transition series. It consists of elements with atomic number 89(Ac), 104(Rf) to
112(Uub) having incomplete 6d orbitals. It is called fourth transition series.
• General Characteristics of transition elements:
a) Metallic character:
All transition elements are metallic in nature, i.e. they have strong metallic bonds. This
is because of presence of unpaired electrons. This gives rise to properties like high
density, high enthalpies of atomization, and high melting and boiling points.
b) Atomic radii:
 The atomic radii decrease from Sc to Cr because the effective nuclear charge increases.
The atomic size of Fe, Co, Ni is almost same because the attraction due to increase in
nuclear charge is cancelled by the repulsion because of increase in shielding effect. Cu
and Zn have bigger size because the shielding effect increases and electron electron
repulsions repulsion increases.
c) Lanthanoid Contraction:
The steady decrease in the atomic and ionic radii of the transition metals as the atomic
number increases. This is because of filling of 4f orbitals before the 5d orbitals. This
contraction is size is quite regular. This is called lanthanoid contraction. It is because
of lanthanoid contraction that the atomic radii of the second row of transition
elements are almost similar to those of the third row of transition elements.
d) Ionisation enthalpy:
There is slight and irregular variation in ionization energies of transition metals due
to irregular variation of atomic size. The I.E. of 5d transition series is higher than 3d
and 4d transition series because of Lanthanoid Contraction.
e) Oxidation state:
Transition metals show variable oxidation states due to tendency of (n-1)d as well as
ns electrons to take part in bond formation.
f) Magnetic properties:
Most of transition metals are paramagnetic in nature due to presence of unpaired
electrons. It increase s from Sc to Cr and then decreases because number of unpaired
and then decrease because number of unpaired electrons increases from Sc to Cr and
then decreases.
g) Catalytic properties:
Most of transition metals are used as catalyst because of (i) presence of incomplete or
empty d – orbitals, (ii) large surface area, (iii) varuable oxidation state, (iv) ability to
form complexes, e.g., Fe, Ni, V2O3, Pt, Mo, Co and used as catalyst.
h) Formation of coloured compounds:
They form coloured ions due to presence of incompletely filled d – orbitals and
unpaired electrons, they can undergo d – d transition by absorbing colour from visible
region and radiating complementary colour.
i) Formation of complexes:
Transition metals form complexes due to (i) presence of vacant d – orbitals of suitable
energy (ii) smaller size (iii) higher charge on cations.
j) Interstitial compounds:
Transition metals have voids or interstitials in which C, H, N, B etc. can fit into resulting
in formation of interstitial compounds. They are non – stoichiometric, i.e., their
composition is not fixed, e.g., steel. They are harder and less malleable and ductile.
k) Alloys formation:
 They form alloys due to similar ionic size. Metals can replace each other in crystal
lattice, e.g., brass, bronze, steel etc.
• Preparation of Potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7):
It is prepared by fusion of chromate ore (FeCr2O4) with sodium carbonate in excess of
air.
4FeCr2O4 + 8Na2CO3 + 7O2 → 8Na2CrO4 + 2Fe2O3 + 8CO2
2Na2CrO4 + H2 SO4 → Na2Cr2O7 + H 2O + Na2 SO4
Sodium Chromate Sodium Dichromate

Na2Cr2O7 + 2KCl → K2Cr2O7 + 2NaCl

• Effect of pH on chromate and dichromate ions:
The chromates and dichromates are inter-convertible in aqueous solution depending
upon pH of the solution. The oxidation state of chromium in chromate and dichromate is
the same.
2CrO42− + 2H + → Cr 2O2−
7 + H O
2

Cr2 O72− + 2OH − → 2CrO2−

4 + H O
2

• Potassium dichromate acts as a strong oxidizing agent in acidic medium:

Cr2 O72− +14H + + 6e− → 2Cr3+ + 7H O2
• Preparation of Potassium permanganate (KMnO4):
a) Potassium permanganate is prepared by fusion of MnO 4 with alkali metal hydroxide
(KOH) in presence of O2 or oxidising agent like KNO3. It produces dark green K2MnO4
which undergoes oxidation as well as reduction in neutral or acidic solution to give
permanganate.
2MnO2 + 4KOH + O2 → 2K2 MnO4 + 2H 2O
4H + + 3MnO2− → 2MnO− + MnO + 2H O
4 4 2 2

b) Commercially, it is prepared by the alkaline oxidative fusion of MnO 2 followed by the

electrolytic oxidation of manganate (Vl).
MnO ⎯⎯ ⎯ ⎯ ⎯ ⎯ ⎯ ⎯ ⎯ ⎯ ⎯ ⎯→ MnO 2− (manganate ions)
fused with KO H in the presence of O 2 or KN O 3

2 4

MnO ⎯⎯ ⎯ ⎯⎯ ⎯ ⎯ ⎯ ⎯⎯⎯
4
2−
→ MnO (Purple)
electrolytic oxidation in alkaline medium −
4
Green

c) In laboratory, Mn²+ salt can be oxidized by peroxodisulphate ion to permanganate

ion.
In acidic medium: MnO−4+ 8H + + 5e− → Mn2+ + 4H O 2
In neutral or faintly basic medium: MnO−4+ 3e− + 2H O2 → MnO + 24OH −
• Properties of Lanthanoids:
a) +3 oxidation state is most common along with +2 and +4.
b) Except Promethium, they are non – radioactive.
c) The magnetic properties of lanthanoids are less complex than actinoids.
• Properties of Actinoids:
a) Actinoids also show higher oxidation states such as +4, +5, +6 and +7.
b) They are radioactive.
 c) The magnetic properties of the actinoids are more complex than those of the
lanthanoids.
d) They are more reactive.
• Mischmetall
a) It is a well-known alloy which consists of a lanthanoid metal (~ 95%) and iron (~
5%) and traces of S, C, Ca and Al.
b) A good deal of mischmetall is used in Mg-based alloy to produce bullets, shell and
lighter flint.