Why do transition metals show catalytic behaviour?

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Solution

1.Catalyst: A substance that increases the rate of a reaction without actually involving in the reaction is called a catalyst or the substance is said to possess catalytic behaviour.
2.Transition metals: The elements that possess incomplete penultimate shell or d-orbitals are said to be transition metals.
Ex: Cu, Fe, Mn etc.
3. Transition metals due to their vacant or incompletely filled d-orbitals exhibit variable valencies( more than 1 valency) which increases the tendency to form complex compounds.
4. These complex compounds contains transition metals as the central atoms and hence, show catalytic behaviour.
Example: $K_{4} [F e {(C N)}_{6}]$

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Explain giving reasons :
Transition metals and many of their compounds show paramagnetic behaviour.

The enthalpies of atomisation of the transition metals are high.

The transition metals generally form coloured compounds.

Transition metals and their many compounds act as good catalyst.

Explain giving reasons:

(i) Transition metals and many of their compounds show paramagnetic

behaviour.

(ii) The enthalpies of atomisation of the transition metals are high.

(iii) The transition metals generally form coloured compounds.

(iv) Transition metals and their many compounds act as good catalyst.

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