Difference Between Group 1 Metals and Transition Metals

The key difference between group 1 metals and transition metals is that group 1 metals form colourless compounds, whereas transition metals form colourful compounds.

Group 1 metals are also known as alkali metals because these elements can form alkaline compounds. However, group 1 of the periodic table contains hydrogen, which is a nonmetal. Transition metals, on the other hand, are d block elements, but not all d block elements are transition metals. Group 1 metals and transition metals are similar in the fact that both have unpaired electrons.

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What are Group 1 Metals
3. What are Transition Metals
4. Side by Side Comparison – Group 1 Metals vs Transition Metals in Tabular Form
5. Summary

What are Group 1 Metals?

Group 1 metals are chemical elements having an unpaired electron in the outermost s orbital. These metals are named as alkali metals because they form chemical compounds which are alkaline when dissolved in water. We can observe these elements in the first column of the s block of the periodic table. The members of this group 1 metals are as follows:

Lithium (Li)
Sodium (Na)
Potassium (K)
Rubidium (Rh)
Caesium (Cs)
Francium (Fr)

Group 1 metals are all shiny, highly reactive, and very soft (we can easily cut them using a simple knife). Generally, the metals in this group show low densities, low melting points, low boiling points and have body-centred cubic crystal structures. Furthermore, they have distinct flame colours, so we can easily distinguish them by exposing a sample to a Bunsen burner.

Moreover, there are some periodic variations among group 1 metals. For example, when going down the group, the atomic size of elements increases, the melting point and boiling point decrease, the density increases, first ionization energy increases, reactivity decreases, etc.

What are Transition Metals?

Transition metals are chemical elements having atoms with unpaired d electrons. In these elements, at least the stable cations they form should have unpaired d electrons. Thus, most of the d block elements are transition metals. We cannot consider scandium and zinc as transition metals because they do not have any unpaired electrons even in their stable cations. These atoms have d electrons, but all of them are paired electrons.

Moreover, transition metal elements can form different compounds with a variety of colours. These elements get this ability due to the fact that these elements can have different oxidation states which are very colourful. These different oxidation states of the chemical element can have different colours. Furthermore, these colours arise due to d-d electronic transitions. Besides, due to the presence of these unpaired electrons, these metals are either paramagnetic or ferromagnetic. Almost all these elements can bond with ligands to form coordination complexes.

What is the Difference Between Group 1 Metals and Transition Metals?

Group 1 metals and transition metals are different from each other, mainly based on the colour of the chemical compounds that they form. That is; the key difference between group 1 metals and transition metals is that the group 1 metals form colourless compounds, whereas the transition metals form colourful compounds.

Moreover, the group 1 metals are chemical elements having an unpaired electron in the outermost s orbital while the transition metals are chemical elements having atoms with unpaired d electrons.

Below infographic tabulates the differences between group 1 metals and transition metals in more detail.

Summary – Group 1 Metals vs Transition Metals

Group 1 metals and transition metals are different from each other, mainly based on the colour of the chemical compounds that they form. The key difference between group 1 metals and transition metals is that the group 1 metals form colourless compounds, whereas the transition metals form colourful compounds.

Reference:

1. Cotton, F. Albert. “Transition Metal.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 3 Apr. 2019, Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Periodic Table Chart with reactive nonmetals” By Sandbh – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. By Benjah-bmm27 assumed (based on copyright claims). – Own work assumed (based on copyright claims)., (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia