Doc Brown's GCSE OCR Gateway Science-Chemistry Revision Notes

OCR GCSE Gateway Additional Science Chemistry Module C4 The Periodic Table

Unit-Item C4f Transition elements

1. This unit covers some properties and chemistry of the transition elements and introduces thermal decomposition and precipitation reactions.

2. The experiments on thermal decomposition allow opportunities to collect and analyse science data, working as an individual or in a group, to analyse results and present the information using scientific conventions and symbols.

3. Suggested practical and research activities to revise from

   • Show a large number of transition elements and ask pupils to deduce or research their properties.

   • Investigation of thermal decomposition of transition metal carbonates including test for carbon dioxide.

   • Investigation of precipitation reactions of transition metal ions with sodium hydroxide.

4. Be able to identify whether an element is a transition element  from its position in the periodic table.

5. Recognise that all transition elements are metals and have typical metallic properties.

6. Be able to deduce the name or symbol of a transition element using the periodic table.

7. Know that copper and iron are transition elements.

8. Be able to describe thermal decomposition as a reaction in which a substance is broken down into at least two other substances by heat.

9. Be able to construct word equations for thermal decomposition reactions (all reactants and products given).

10. Know that the test for carbon dioxide is that it turns limewater milky.

11. Be able to describe precipitation as a reaction between solutions that makes an insoluble solid.

12. Know that compounds of transition elements are often coloured:

    • copper compounds are often blue

    • iron(II) compounds are often light green

    • iron(III) compounds are often orange/brown.

13. Know that transition elements and their compounds are often used as catalysts:

    • iron in the Haber process

    • nickel in the manufacture of margarine.

14. Be able to describe the thermal decomposition of carbonates of transition elements including :

    • FeCO₃, CuCO₃, MnCO₃ and ZnCO₃:

      • metal oxide and carbon dioxide formed

      • word equations (not all products given)

      • colour change occurs (colours not needed).

15. HT only: Be able to construct the balanced symbol equations for the thermal decomposition of:

    • FeCO₃

    • CuCO₃

    • MnCO₃

    • ZnCO₃

16. Be able to describe the use of sodium hydroxide solution to identify the presence of transition metal ions in solution:

    • Cu²⁺ gives a blue solid

    • Fe²⁺ gives a grey/green solid

    • Fe³⁺ gives an orange/brown solid

      • solids formed in this way are called precipitates.

17. HT only: Be able to construct balanced symbol equations for the reactions between Cu²⁺, Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ with OH^– (without state symbols) given the formulae of the ions

18. Revision NOTES and QUIZZES:

    • The Transition Metals Notes eg iron and copper

    • Multiple choice quiz on the Transition Metals and their Compounds

    • Word-fill worksheet on the Transition Metals