General Properties of Transition Metals

Transition metal characteristics of elements Ti–Cu arise from an incomplete d sub-level in atoms or ions.

The characteristic properties include:

complex formation

formation of coloured ions

variable oxidation state

catalytic activity.

A ligand is a molecule or ion that forms a co-ordinate bond with a transition metal by donating a pair of electrons.

A complex is a central metal atom or ion surrounded by ligands.

Co-ordination number is the number of co-ordinate bonds to the central metal atom or ion.