Key term
CCEA A-Level Chemistry 1110
Formulae, Equations and Amounts of Substance
Atomic Structure
Topic overviewProtons, neutrons and electronsAtomic number, mass number and the composition of ionsIsotopes and relative isotopic massRelative atomic, molecular and formula massMass spectra and relative atomic mass calculationsMass spectra of diatomic elementsElectronic configuration and the building up principleOrbitals, electron spin and orbital shapesThe s-, p-, d- and f-blocks of the Periodic TableIonisation energies and their equationsTrends in ionisation energy as evidence for shells and subshells
Bonding
Topic overviewIonic bonding and electron transferDot and cross diagrams for ionic compoundsCovalent bonding and the shared pairLone pairs and co-ordinate bondingDot and cross diagrams for covalent molecules and ionsThe octet rule and its limitationsElectronegativity and bond polarityMetallic bonding
Intermolecular Forces and Structure
Shapes of Molecules and Ions
Redox
The Halogens
Acid-Base Titrations
Qualitative Tests
Formulae and Amounts of a Substance
Nomenclature and Isomerism in Organic Chemistry
Alkanes
Topic overviewAlkanes as saturated hydrocarbonsBoiling points of alkanes and van der Waals' forcesBoiling points of branched isomersComplete and incomplete combustion of alkanesPollutants from alkane fuels and the atmosphereCatalytic convertersRadicals, homolytic fission and heterolytic fissionFree radical substitution of alkanes
Alkenes
Topic overviewUnsaturated hydrocarbons and the bromine water testSigma and pi bonds in the carbon–carbon double bondElectron density at C=C, reactivity and catalytic hydrogenationAddition of chlorine and bromine to alkenesAddition of hydrogen chloride and hydrogen bromideElectrophiles, heterolytic fission and the addition mechanismCarbocation stability and Markovnikov additionAddition polymerisation of alkenes
Halogenoalkanes
Topic overviewClassification and boiling points of halogenoalkanesLaboratory preparation of a halogenoalkane from an alcoholNucleophiles and hydrolysis with aqueous alkaliReactions with ammonia and with potassium cyanideRelative rates of hydrolysis and carbon–halogen bond enthalpyElimination using ethanolic potassium hydroxideCFCs and the ozone layer
Alcohols
Infrared Spectroscopy
Energetics
Topic overviewExothermic and endothermic changesStandard conditions and the standard enthalpy changeEnthalpy level diagramsStandard enthalpies of combustion and formationStandard enthalpy of neutralisationMeasuring enthalpy changes by experimentEnthalpy calculations using q = mcΔTHess's Law and enthalpy cyclesIndirect enthalpy calculations using Hess's LawAverage bond enthalpies and their limitations
Kinetics
Equilibrium
Group II Elements and Their Compounds
Topic overviews-block character and electronic configurationTrends in atomic radius and first ionisation energyReactions of the elements with oxygen, water and dilute acidsThe oxides and their reactions with water and dilute acidsThermal stability of the carbonates and hydroxidesUses of magnesium oxide, calcium carbonate and limeSolubility trends and solubility curves
Lattice Enthalpy, Entropy and Free Energy
Topic overviewLattice enthalpy and the factors that control itBorn–Haber cycles for Group I halidesBorn–Haber cycles for Group II halides and oxidesEnthalpy of hydration and enthalpy of solutionCalculations on dissolving ionic compoundsEntropy and the limits of enthalpy changeStandard entropy change calculationsFree energy and the temperature of feasibility
Rates of Reaction
Equilibrium and Acid-Base Equilibria
Topic overviewEquilibrium concentrations from initial amountsKc expressions, values and unitsBrønsted–Lowry acids, bases and conjugate pairsKw, pH and the pH of strong acids and basesKa, pKa and the pH of weak acidsBuffer solutions and how they resist pH changeCalculating the pH of a buffer solutionTitration curves, indicators and the pH of salt solutions
Isomerism
Aldehydes and Ketones
Topic overviewStructure and naming of aldehydes and ketonesBoiling points and solubility of carbonyl compoundsPreparation from primary and secondary alcoholsReaction with hydrogen cyanide and the nucleophilic addition mechanismRacemic mixtures from nucleophilic addition2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine and the identification of carbonylsDistinguishing aldehydes from ketones, and reduction with lithal
Carboxylic Acids
Derivatives of Carboxylic Acids
Topic overviewEsters and acyl chlorides: structure and namingBoiling points and solubility of monoestersMaking esters from alcohols with carboxylic acids or acyl chloridesThe laboratory preparation of a liquid esterFats and oils as esters of glycerolTransesterification, biodiesel and margarineReactions of acyl chlorides with water and alcohols
Aromatic Chemistry
Spectroscopy and Chromatography
Topic overviewThe mass spectrum: molecular ion and base peakFragmentation and the formulae of fragment ionsHigh resolution mass spectrometryNuclear magnetic resonance and the TMS standardChemically equivalent hydrogens and chemical shiftIntegration curvesSpin–spin splitting and the n+1 ruleDeducing a structure from an nmr spectrumPaper and thin-layer chromatographyGas–liquid chromatography
Volumetric Analysis
Transition Metals
Topic overviewThe characteristic properties of the transition metalsElectronic configurations of the metals and their ionsComplexes, ligands and coordination numberOxidation number, redox and disproportionationMonodentate, bidentate and polydentate ligandsLigand strength and the entropy of ligand replacementLigand replacement in copper(II) complexesThe colours of the aqueous transition metal ionsHydroxide precipitates with sodium hydroxidePrecipitates with aqueous ammonia and their dissolutionVanadium and the interconversion of its oxidation states
Electrode Potentials
Amines
Amides and Polymers
Amino Acids and Proteins
Transition Metals
- 11 subtopics
- 33 things to know
- Unit A2 2
What Transition Metals covers
Transition Metals is examined in Unit A2 2, Analytical, Transition Metals, Electrochemistry and Organic Nitrogen Chemistry, and drawn on again in Unit A2 3, Further Practical Chemistry. It covers the characteristic properties of the transition metals, electronic configurations of the metals and their ions, complexes, ligands and coordination number, oxidation number, redox and disproportionation, monodentate, bidentate and polydentate ligands, ligand strength and the entropy of ligand replacement, ligand replacement in copper(II) complexes, the colours of the aqueous transition metal ions, hydroxide precipitates with sodium hydroxide, precipitates with aqueous ammonia and their dissolution and vanadium and the interconversion of its oxidation states.
Where it is assessed
Unit A2 2
Analytical, Transition Metals, Electrochemistry and Organic Nitrogen Chemistry, and again in Unit A2 3, Further Practical Chemistry.
Check the CCEA specification ↗The 11 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- The characteristic properties of the transition metalsTransition metal, heterogeneous catalyst and homogeneous catalyst.Open →
- Electronic configurations of the metals and their ionsRecall questions on the order in which 4s and 3d fill, the configurations of titanium, iron, chromium and copper and why chromium and copper are exceptions, which electrons are lost first on forming an ion, and the configurations of Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺, Cu²⁺, Mn²⁺ and Cr³⁺ with the stability of the half-filled arrangement.Open →
- Complexes, ligands and coordination numberBond joins a ligand to the metal, coordination number of a complex and coordination number of [Cu(H₂O)₆]²⁺.Open →
- Oxidation number, redox and disproportionationOxidation number of copper in [CuCl₄]²⁻, oxidation number of iron in [Fe(CN)₆]³⁻ and oxidation number of chromium in [Cr(H₂O)₆]³⁺.Open →
- Monodentate, bidentate and polydentate ligandsMonodentate ligand, bidentate ligand and polydentate ligand.Open →
- Ligand strength and the entropy of ligand replacementChelate effect and general principle governing ligand replacement.Open →
- Ligand replacement in copper(II) complexesShape of the hexaaquacopper(II) ion, shape of the [CuCl₄]²⁻ ion and seen when the ammonia is then added in excess.Open →
- The colours of the aqueous transition metal ionsRecall questions on the colours of aqueous chromium(III), manganese(II), iron(II), iron(III), cobalt(II), nickel(II) and copper(II), the yellow chromate and orange dichromate and why their interconversion is not redox, the four vanadium species, why colour changes with oxidation state, and measuring concentration with a colorimeter.Open →
- Hydroxide precipitates with sodium hydroxideSeen when sodium hydroxide is added to chromium(III) solution, seen when sodium hydroxide is added to manganese(II) solution and seen when sodium hydroxide is added to iron(II) solution.Open →
- Precipitates with aqueous ammonia and their dissolutionRecall questions on ammonia acting first as a base and then as a ligand, the precipitates given by chromium(III), copper(II), cobalt(II) and nickel(II) and their colours in excess ammonia, the three that do not dissolve, distinguishing copper from iron(III) and chromium from nickel, and why the test is qualitative.Open →
- Vanadium and the interconversion of its oxidation statesRecall questions on acidified ammonium metavanadate as the source of vanadium(V), the yellow to blue to green to violet sequence with zinc and the species and oxidation state behind each colour, the three half-equations and their potentials, why zinc reduces all the way, and choosing a reducing agent from a table of potentials.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
Key term
How is a metal's oxidation number found in a complex, and what is it in [CuCl₄]²⁻, [Fe(CN)₆]³⁻ and [Cr(H₂O)₆]³⁺?
Key term
What is a transition metal?
Key term
In what order are the 4s and 3d subshells filled?
Key term
What is a monodentate ligand?
Evaluation
What determines the strength of a ligand?
Key term
What is the formula and colour of the complex formed when copper(II) sulfate dissolves in water?
Key term
What two chromium(VI) ions are met, and what colours are they?
Key term
What happens in general when sodium hydroxide solution is added to a transition metal salt?
Key term
Why does aqueous ammonia precipitate a metal hydroxide?
Key term
What compound is used as the source of vanadium(V) in the laboratory?
Key term
Name the four characteristic properties of the transition metals.
Key term
Give the electronic configuration of a titanium atom.
Key term
What is a complex?
Key term
How is the oxidation number of the metal in a complex deduced?
Key term
Give three examples of a monodentate ligand.
Key term
Why is ammonia a stronger ligand than water?
Key term
What happens when concentrated hydrochloric acid is added to a solution of copper(II) sulfate in water?
Key term
What colour is an aqueous solution of manganese(II)?
Key term
Write the general ionic equation for the precipitation of a two plus metal ion by sodium hydroxide
Key term
What is seen when a little aqueous ammonia is added to chromium(III) solution?
Key term
What reagent is used to reduce vanadium(V) through its lower oxidation states?
Key term
Why do transition metals show variable oxidation states?
Key term
Give the electronic configuration of an iron atom.
Key term
What is a ligand?
Key term
What is the oxidation number of copper in [CuCl₄]²⁻?
Key term
What is a bidentate ligand?
Evaluation
Place water, ammonia and the chloride ion in order of ligand strength.
Key term
Why does the coordination number fall from six to four when chloride ions replace water around copper(II)?
Key term
What colour is an aqueous solution of iron(III)?
Key term
What is seen when sodium hydroxide is added to chromium(III) solution?
Key term
What is seen when a little aqueous ammonia is added to copper(II) solution, and then more?
Process
Give the sequence of colours observed as zinc reduces acidified ammonium metavanadate.
Take Transition Metals further
The same content, four other ways.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
What is a transition metal?
Model answer
A d-block element that forms at least one stable ion with a partly filled d subshell.
- 2
Name the four characteristic properties of the transition metals.
Model answer
An incomplete d shell, variable oxidation states, catalytic activity, and the formation of coloured complexes.
- 3
Why is scandium not counted as a transition metal?
Model answer
Its only common ion, Sc³⁺, has an empty d subshell rather than a partly filled one.
- 4
Why is zinc not counted as a transition metal?
Model answer
Its only common ion, Zn²⁺, has a completely full d subshell rather than a partly filled one.
- 5
Why do transition metals show variable oxidation states?
Model answer
The 4s and 3d subshells are very close in energy, so different numbers of electrons can be removed without a large difference in the energy required.
- 6
Why are transition metal compounds coloured?
Model answer
The ligands split the d subshell into two levels of slightly different energy, and an electron absorbs visible light to move between them.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Transition Metals revision questions
- What does Transition Metals cover in CCEA A-Level Chemistry?
- 11 subtopics: the characteristic properties of the transition metals, electronic configurations of the metals and their ions, complexes, ligands and coordination number, oxidation number, redox and disproportionation, monodentate, bidentate and polydentate ligands, ligand strength and the entropy of ligand replacement, ligand replacement in copper(ii) complexes, the colours of the aqueous transition metal ions, hydroxide precipitates with sodium hydroxide, precipitates with aqueous ammonia and their dissolution and vanadium and the interconversion of its oxidation states. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Transition Metals organised?
- By the CCEA 1110 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in Transition Metals, on a schedule.
Attempt a question from memory, write the correct version, then attempt it again. Levo records the jump between your first attempt and your last, and brings each question back on the day you are due to forget it.
Or £46 a year, about £3.83 a month. Cancel anytime.