AQA GCSE Chemistry (8462), Higher tier · Atomic structure and the periodic table › Properties of transition metals
Practise Typical properties. 11 exam-style questions on this subtopic, at up to four difficulty levels, with full mark schemes and a progress tracker. Free, no account needed.
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Chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel and copper are transition metals. What colour is copper(II) sulfate solution?
blue
Copper forms two oxides, Cu2O and CuO. The oxide ion is O2−. Give the charge on the copper ion in each oxide.
Cu2O: 1+; CuO: 2+
Give the typical colour of a solution of a copper(II) compound.
blue
Deduce the charge on the chromium ion in Cr2O3. Show your working.
3+
Which typical property of transition metal compounds is shown by cobalt chloride and copper(II) sulfate?
They are coloured.
Which typical property of transition metals is shown by iron forming both Fe2+ ions and Fe3+ ions?
Transition metals form ions with different charges.
Sample questions
Written for this site in the style of AQA exam questions. They are not taken from real past papers.
Question 1Easy4 marks
Chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel and copper are transition metals.
(a) Which is a typical property of compounds of transition metals? Tick (✓) one box.[1]
They are always white.
They are often coloured.
They are all gases.
They only contain ions with a 1+ charge.
(b) What colour is copper(II) sulfate solution?[1]
(c) Iron is used as a catalyst in the Haber process to make ammonia. What does a catalyst do?[1]
(d) Iron forms Fe2+ ions and Fe3+ ions. The oxide ion is O2−. Give the formula of iron(III) oxide.[1]
Show the answer and mark scheme
(a)Answer: They are often coloured.
(b)Answer: blue
blue
(c)Answer: It speeds up a reaction without being used up.
speeds up / increases the rate of a (chemical) reaction
(d)Answer: Fe2O3
Fe2O3
Question 2Medium6 marks
Many transition metals form ions with different charges.
(a) Copper forms two oxides, Cu2O and CuO. The oxide ion is O2−. Give the charge on the copper ion in each oxide.[2]
(b) Give the formula of the compound formed between Fe3+ ions and Cl− ions.[1]
(c) Solutions that contain Fe2+ ions are pale green. Solutions that contain Fe3+ ions are yellow-brown. A student left some iron(II) sulfate solution open to the air for a week. The solution turned yellow-brown. Suggest what happened to the iron ions.[1]
(d) Many transition metals and their compounds are useful as catalysts. Name one transition metal, or compound of a transition metal, that is used as a catalyst. Name the process or reaction it catalyses.[2]
Show the answer and mark scheme
(a)Answer: Cu2O: 1+; CuO: 2+
Cu2O: 1+ / Cu+
CuO: 2+ / Cu2+
(b)Answer: FeCl3
FeCl3
(c)Answer: The Fe2+ ions changed into Fe3+ ions (they were oxidised by oxygen in the air).
Fe2+ ions changed into Fe3+ ions / iron(II) was oxidised to iron(III)
(d)Answer: e.g. iron, which is the catalyst in the Haber process for making ammonia.
a named transition metal or transition metal compound used as a catalyst, e.g. iron / manganese(IV) oxide / nickel
a correct process or reaction for the catalyst named, e.g. iron: the Haber process (making ammonia) / manganese(IV) oxide: decomposition of hydrogen peroxide / nickel: adding hydrogen to alkenes
Question 3Hard5 marks
Iron(II) sulfate, FeSO4, dissolves in water to form a pale green solution. When the solution is left open to the air for several days, it slowly turns orange-brown as Fe2+ ions change into Fe3+ ions.
(a) Which typical property of transition metals is shown by iron forming both Fe2+ ions and Fe3+ ions?[1]
(b) Write a half equation for the change of Fe2+ ions into Fe3+ ions.[1]
(c) Are the Fe2+ ions oxidised or reduced? Explain your answer.[2]
(d) Iron(III) sulfate contains Fe3+ ions and SO42− ions. Give the formula of iron(III) sulfate.[1]
Show the answer and mark scheme
(a)Answer: Transition metals form ions with different charges.