Transition metals38 elements · the d-block in the centre of the table

The transition metals fill the d-block, groups 3 to 12, in the middle of the periodic table. They include familiar metals such as iron, copper, nickel, silver, gold and platinum. Transition metals are typically hard, strong and dense, have high melting points, conduct heat and electricity well, and often form coloured compounds. Many can exist in several oxidation states, which makes them excellent catalysts.

# Properties of transition metals

Partly filled d orbitals
Usually hard, dense and high-melting
Form coloured compounds and ions
Several possible oxidation states
Widely used as catalysts and in alloys such as steel

# List of transition metals

#	Symbol	Element	Atomic mass	Electron configuration	State at 25 °C	Melting point
21	Sc	Scandium	44.956	[Ar] 3d¹ 4s²	solid	1814 K
22	Ti	Titanium	47.867	[Ar] 3d² 4s²	solid	1941 K
23	V	Vanadium	50.942	[Ar] 3d³ 4s²	solid	2183 K
24	Cr	Chromium	51.996	[Ar] 3d⁵ 4s¹	solid	2180 K
25	Mn	Manganese	54.938	[Ar] 3d⁵ 4s²	solid	1519 K
26	Fe	Iron	55.845	[Ar] 3d⁶ 4s²	solid	1811 K
27	Co	Cobalt	58.933	[Ar] 3d⁷ 4s²	solid	1768 K
28	Ni	Nickel	58.693	[Ar] 3d⁸ 4s²	solid	1728 K
29	Cu	Copper	63.546	[Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s¹	solid	1357.77 K
30	Zn	Zinc	65.38	[Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s²	solid	692.68 K
39	Y	Yttrium	88.906	[Kr] 4d¹ 5s²	solid	1799 K
40	Zr	Zirconium	91.224	[Kr] 4d² 5s²	solid	2128 K
41	Nb	Niobium	92.906	[Kr] 4d⁴ 5s¹	solid	2750 K
42	Mo	Molybdenum	95.95	[Kr] 4d⁵ 5s¹	solid	2896 K
43	Tc	Technetium	98	[Kr] 4d⁵ 5s²	solid	2430 K
44	Ru	Ruthenium	101.07	[Kr] 4d⁷ 5s¹	solid	2607 K
45	Rh	Rhodium	102.91	[Kr] 4d⁸ 5s¹	solid	2237 K
46	Pd	Palladium	106.42	[Kr] 4d¹⁰	solid	1828.05 K
47	Ag	Silver	107.87	[Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s¹	solid	1234.93 K
48	Cd	Cadmium	112.41	[Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s²	solid	594.22 K
72	Hf	Hafnium	178.49	[Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d² 6s²	solid	2506 K
73	Ta	Tantalum	180.95	[Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d³ 6s²	solid	3290 K
74	W	Tungsten	183.84	[Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d⁴ 6s²	solid	3695 K
75	Re	Rhenium	186.21	[Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d⁵ 6s²	solid	3459 K
76	Os	Osmium	190.23	[Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d⁶ 6s²	solid	3306 K
77	Ir	Iridium	192.22	[Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d⁷ 6s²	solid	2719 K
78	Pt	Platinum	195.08	[Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d⁹ 6s¹	solid	2041.4 K
79	Au	Gold	196.97	[Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s¹	solid	1337.33 K
80	Hg	Mercury	200.59	[Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d¹⁰ 6s²	liquid	234.43 K
104	Rf	Rutherfordium	[267]	[Rn] 5f¹⁴ 6d² 7s²	predicted solid	2400 K
105	Db	Dubnium	[268]	[Rn] 5f¹⁴ 6d³ 7s²	unknown	unknown
106	Sg	Seaborgium	[269]	[Rn] 5f¹⁴ 6d⁴ 7s²	unknown	unknown
107	Bh	Bohrium	[270]	[Rn] 5f¹⁴ 6d⁵ 7s²	unknown	unknown
108	Hs	Hassium	[277]	[Rn] 5f¹⁴ 6d⁶ 7s²	unknown	unknown
109	Mt	Meitnerium	[278]	[Rn] 5f¹⁴ 6d⁷ 7s²	unknown	unknown
110	Ds	Darmstadtium	[281]	[Rn] 5f¹⁴ 6d⁸ 7s²	unknown	unknown
111	Rg	Roentgenium	[282]	[Rn] 5f¹⁴ 6d⁹ 7s²	unknown	unknown
112	Cn	Copernicium	[285]	[Rn] 5f¹⁴ 6d¹⁰ 7s²	unknown	unknown

# Transition metals FAQ

Which elements are transition metals?

There are 38 transition metals in this table: Scandium, Titanium, Vanadium, Chromium, Manganese, Iron, Cobalt, Nickel, Copper, Zinc, Yttrium, Zirconium, Niobium, Molybdenum, Technetium, Ruthenium, Rhodium, Palladium, Silver, Cadmium, Hafnium, Tantalum, Tungsten, Rhenium, Osmium, Iridium, Platinum, Gold, Mercury, Rutherfordium, Dubnium, Seaborgium, Bohrium, Hassium, Meitnerium, Darmstadtium, Roentgenium, Copernicium.

Where are the transition metals on the periodic table?

The transition metals are found in the d-block in the centre of the table, groups 3 to 12.

What are the properties of transition metals?

Partly filled d orbitals; Usually hard, dense and high-melting; Form coloured compounds and ions; Several possible oxidation states; Widely used as catalysts and in alloys such as steel.

# Other element categories

●Alkali metals ●Alkaline earth metals ●Post-transition metals ●Metalloids ●Reactive nonmetals ●Halogens ●Noble gases ●Lanthanides ●Actinides