Chemistry Transition Elements BUMHS 2023
PMDC Verified Question 26 of 68
Why do transition elements form alloys so easily?
A
Atomic size
B
Orbital configuration
C
Very light
D
Hard elements
Tap any option to test your recall and reveal the step-by-step Propolis autopsy.

Propolis Cognitive Error Autopsy

Official Correct Choice:
Option A: Atomic size
Concept:

Alloys are homogenous solid mixtures of two or more metals. The ease of forming an alloy is dictated by the Hume-Rothery rules.

Solution:

  • One of the primary rules for forming a stable substitutional solid solution (an alloy) is that the constituent metals must have very similar atomic radii (usually within 15% of each other).


  • Transition elements, particularly those in the same row, have very similar atomic sizes because the addition of electrons to the inner \((n-1)d\) subshell effectively shields the outer \(ns\) electrons, keeping the atomic radius relatively constant across the series.


  • Due to this similarity in atomic size, atoms of one transition metal can easily replace atoms of another transition metal in a crystal lattice without heavily distorting it.


Why other options are incorrect:

  • While they are hard and have specific orbital configurations, these are not the primary geometric factors that permit atoms to swap places in a lattice to form alloys.

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