Question

Pick out the incorrect statement for transition metals

• A. They have low melting and boiling points (or low enthalpies of atomization)
• B. 5d-elements have higher ionization energies than 3d or 4d-elements
• C. Zr and Hf have almost identical atomic and ionic radii
• D. They form interstitial compounds

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

Transition metals have high enthalpies of atomization, because they form strong metallic bonds, due to participation of (n - 1) d-electrons along with ns-electrons in metallic bonding.

This due to the greater effective nuclear charge acting on outer valence electrons, because of weak shielding of nucleus by 4f-electrons

The normal size increase from Zr to Hf is almost exactly balanced by lanthanide contraction

Because of small size, atoms of H, He, C, N occupy the vacant spaces in the crystal lattice of transition metal.