Transition elements
8.4What the syllabus asks of you
- Describe the transition elements as metals that: (a) have high densities (b) have high melting points (c) have variable oxidation numbers (d) form coloured compounds (e) often act as catalysts as elements and in compounds
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Chapter 8: Transition elements
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Every question on Transition elements, untimed, marked as you go.
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19 questions
1May / June 2026 · Paper 11 · Q22Show mark scheme →
Adensity 0.01 g/cm3, melting point -71 °C, no, colourless
Bdensity 2.01 g/cm3, melting point 112 °C, yes, yellow
Cdensity 2.46 g/cm3, melting point 27 °C, no, silver-grey
Ddensity 8.90 g/cm3, melting point 1455 °C, yes, silvery white
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2May / June 2026 · Paper 12 · Q23Show mark scheme →
ATheir soluble salts usually form coloured aqueous solutions.
BThey are all in the same group of the Periodic Table.
CThey are non-metals with high melting points.
DThey can be mixed together to form compounds.
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3May / June 2025 · Paper 11 · Q25Show mark scheme →
Acopper or magnesium
Bcopper only
Ciron or magnesium
Diron only
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4Oct / Nov 2024 · Paper 11 · Q26Show mark scheme →
Aboth X and Y
BX only
CY only
Dneither X nor Y
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5May / June 2023 · Paper 11 · Q23Show mark scheme →
ACopper(II) oxide catalyses the conversion of sulfuric acid to copper(II) sulfate.
BIron allows hydrogen and nitrogen to react at a lower temperature.
CNickel increases the rate of reaction between hydrogen and saturated hydrocarbons.
DVanadium(V) oxide speeds up the oxidation of sulfur to sulfur dioxide.
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6May / June 2023 · Paper 12 · Q27Show mark scheme →
Airon has two common oxidation states (I) and (II) / iron atoms can lose one or two electrons to form compounds
Bnickel can be used as a catalyst / the use of nickel raises the activation energy of the reaction
Cthe reaction of aqueous sodium hydroxide with the salt of a transition element can be used to identify the element / transition metal hydroxides are often coloured
Dtransition elements have high melting points / the presence of varying numbers of electrons in the ‘sea’ of delocalised electrons weakens the metallic lattice
Mark scheme
7Oct / Nov 2021 · Paper 12 · Q30Also set in Oct / Nov 2021 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
A1 and 2
B1 and 4
C2 and 3
D3 and 4
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8May / June 2021 · Paper 11 · Q30Show mark scheme →
Aboth X and Y
BX only
CY only
Dneither X nor Y
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9May / June 2021 · Paper 12 · Q29Show mark scheme →
A1, 2 and 3
B1, 3 and 4
C1 and 2 only
D1 and 3 only
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10Oct / Nov 2019 · Paper 11 · Q25Show mark scheme →
AA
BB
CC
DD
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11Oct / Nov 2019 · Paper 12 · Q24Show mark scheme →
AGroup II, oxidised
BGroup II, reduced
Ctransition, oxidised
Dtransition, reduced
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12May / June 2019 · Paper 11 · Q28Show mark scheme →
AIts density is similar to the density of sodium. / Some of them can act as catalysts.
BIts density is similar to the density of sodium. / They are white in the solid state.
CIt is present in compounds in more than one oxidation state. / Some of them can act as catalysts.
DIt is present in compounds in more than one oxidation state. / They are white in the solid state.
Mark scheme
13May / June 2019 · Paper 12 · Q28Show mark scheme →
ATheir soluble salts usually form coloured aqueous solutions.
BThey are all in the same group of the Periodic Table.
CThey are non-metals with high melting points.
DThey can be mixed together to form compounds.
Mark scheme
14Oct / Nov 2018 · Paper 12 · Q26Also set in Oct / Nov 2018 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
A1, 2 and 3
B1 and 2 only
C1 and 3 only
D2 and 3 only
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15May / June 2018 · Paper 11 · Q28Show mark scheme →
AThey form coloured compounds.
BThey have high melting points.
CThey have low densities.
DThey have variable oxidation states.
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16May / June 2018 · Paper 12 · Q28Show mark scheme →
AGroup II
BGroup III
CGroup V
Dtransition metals
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17May / June 2017 · Paper 12 · Q23Show mark scheme →
Aa low melting point
Bcoloured compounds
Cgood electrical conductivity
Dvariable oxidation states
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18Oct / Nov 2016 · Paper 12 · Q23Show mark scheme →
Amelting point / °C: 44, density in g / cm3: 1.82
Bmelting point / °C: 181, density in g / cm3: 0.53
Cmelting point / °C: 271, density in g / cm3: 9.75
Dmelting point / °C: 1244, density in g / cm3: 7.20
Mark scheme
19May / June 2016 · Paper 12 · Q24Also set in May / June 2016 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
Amelting point –38.9 °C, density 13.6 g/cm³, electrical conductivity good
Bmelting point –7.2 °C, density 3.12 g/cm³, electrical conductivity poor
Cmelting point 97.8 °C, density 0.97 g/cm³, electrical conductivity good
Dmelting point 1083 °C, density 8.96 g/cm³, electrical conductivity good
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