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Difficulty: EasyTransition Metals: General Properties, Catalytic Behavior, and Complex Ions

Which property of transition metals primarily enables them to function as efficient catalysts in industrial chemical processes?

  1. Ability to exhibit variable oxidation states and offer vacant d-orbitalsAnswer
  2. B
    High electrical and thermal conductivity
  3. C
    Low melting points and low densities relative to s-block metals
  4. D
    Ability to shift the position of dynamic equilibrium to increase product yield

Answer

Ability to exhibit variable oxidation states and offer vacant d-orbitals
Transition elements possess unfilled or partially filled d-orbitals and readily change oxidation states. These characteristics allow them to bind reactants temporarily or form unstable transition-state intermediates, offering reaction mechanisms with lower activation energy.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Recall the fundamental feature of transition metals responsible for catalytic activity.
Transition metals have partially filled d-orbitals and can easily exchange electrons to adopt multiple oxidation states.
This allows them to form temporary bonds with reactants (adsorption) or form reactive intermediate species, which significantly lowers activation energy.

Key Concept

Catalytic behavior of transition metals due to variable oxidation states and available d-orbitals
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Topics

Transition Metals: General Properties, Catalytic Behavior, and Complex Ions

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