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Transition Metals Trivia Quiz

Transition metals can be found in the middle of the periodic table. Common transition metals include iron, nickel, and copper, but there are many more. Let's see how much you know about them.

A multiple-choice quiz by hotdogPi. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
hotdogPi

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
371,712

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
413

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. When seeing names of chemical compounds, you might see something like "iron (III) oxide", which is Fe2O3. What do the Roman numerals in parentheses mean? Hint

Negative charge of the ion

Number of molecules

Number of atoms of the ion

Positive charge of the ion

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Question 2 of 10

2. What is the densest stable element? It is a transition metal found beneath iron in the periodic table. This element alloys with iridium, which is the second densest. Hint

Lead

Platinum

Gold

Osmium

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Question 3 of 10

3. Which element is the only transition metal that has a single-letter chemical symbol that is not the first letter of the element? Hint

Potassium

Vanadium

Iron

Tungsten

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Question 4 of 10

4. Which of these elements is a transition metal and also radioactive? Hint

Copper

Francium

Radium

Technetium

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Question 5 of 10

5. Which of these is NOT true about mercury, with atomic number 80? Hint

It is denser than lead

It has a symbol of Hg

It was named after the planet Mercury

It is liquid at room temperature

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Question 6 of 10

6. Which of these similar-sounding elements is a transition metal? Hint

Ytterbium

Yttrium

Erbium

Terbium

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Question 7 of 10

7. Which of these, frequently placed in the transition metal category, has the lowest atomic number? Hint

Lithium

Titanium

Scandium

Iron

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Question 8 of 10

8. Three of these metals are in Group 11, and have been used for coins historically. Which one is different? Hint

Copper

Gold

Titanium

Silver

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Question 9 of 10

9. Which of these transition metals is the most radioactive? Hint

Rhenium

Ruthenium

Rutherfordium

Rhodium

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Question 10 of 10

10. By far, what is the most common transition metal in Earth's crust? Hint

Titanium

Silicon

Manganese

Iron

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. When seeing names of chemical compounds, you might see something like "iron (III) oxide", which is Fe2O3. What do the Roman numerals in parentheses mean?

Answer: Positive charge of the ion

The Roman numerals distinguish it from other types of iron oxide. For example, iron (II) oxide is FeO. Since transition metals often have more than one possible charge, the Roman numerals are needed.

2. What is the densest stable element? It is a transition metal found beneath iron in the periodic table. This element alloys with iridium, which is the second densest.

Answer: Osmium

Osmium has a density of 22.59 g/cm^3 (for comparison, water is 1 g/cm^3 by definition). Iridium is almost as dense (22.56 g/cm^3). Gold has a density of approximately 19 g/cm^3, and lead has a density of 11 g/cm^3. All of these elements, except for lead, are very expensive.

3. Which element is the only transition metal that has a single-letter chemical symbol that is not the first letter of the element?

Answer: Tungsten

Tungsten has a chemical symbol of W, from "wolfram". Vanadium has a chemical symbol of V, iron is Fe, and potassium (not a transition metal) is K. Tungsten's melting point is about 3400�C, the highest melting point of all elements.

4. Which of these elements is a transition metal and also radioactive?

Answer: Technetium

The elements that are always radioactive are technetium (atomic number 43), promethium (atomic number 61), and all elements with atomic numbers of 84 or greater (including francium and radium). Other elements have radioactive isotopes, but the stable isotopes are much more common.

5. Which of these is NOT true about mercury, with atomic number 80?

Answer: It was named after the planet Mercury

Mercury is a dangerous liquid at room temperature, with a density of 13 g/cm^3 (lead is 11 g/cm^3). Not only is it denser than lead, but lead floats on top of mercury. Both the planet and the element Mercury are named after the Roman god Mercury, but the element is not named after the planet.

6. Which of these similar-sounding elements is a transition metal?

Answer: Yttrium

Yttrium is a transition metal, with atomic number 39. The other three are lanthanides, which have atomic numbers between 57 and 71 (65 for terbium, 68 for erbium, and 70 for ytterbium). All four elements are named after a village in Sweden named Ytterby, where these elements were found.

7. Which of these, frequently placed in the transition metal category, has the lowest atomic number?

Answer: Scandium

Scandium has an atomic number of 21. Titanium has an atomic number of 22, and iron has an atomic number of 26. Lithium is an alkali metal, not a transition metal.

8. Three of these metals are in Group 11, and have been used for coins historically. Which one is different?

Answer: Titanium

Titanium is not suitable for coin use because the die used to make the coins wears down more quickly. Before 1900, most countries had gold coins for high values, silver coins for medium values, and copper coins for low values. Silver and gold are not used for circulating coins anymore because of their high value.

9. Which of these transition metals is the most radioactive?

Answer: Rutherfordium

Rutherfordium, named after Ernest Rutherford, is a radioactive element. Its most stable isotope has a half-life of about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

10. By far, what is the most common transition metal in Earth's crust?

Answer: Iron

The most common elements in Earth's crust, in order, are oxygen, silicon, aluminum, iron, calcium, and sodium. Out of these, only iron is a transition metal.

Source: Author hotdogPi

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor rossian before going online.
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