2. Transition Metals  The elements in Groups 3-12 of the periodic table are the transition metals.

3. Transition Metals  The elements in Groups 3-12 of the periodic table are the transition metals.  Although they make up 10 groups of the periodic table, the transition metals are often treated as a single large group.

4. Transition Metals  Most of the metals that are familiar from your daily life are transitional metals.

5. Transition Metals  Most of the metals that are familiar from your daily life are transitional metals.  These include iron, copper, silver, and gold.

6. Transition Metals  While many of the properties of transition metals are similar, each metal has specific properties that make it unique.

7. Transition Metals  While many of the properties of transition metals are similar, each metal has specific properties that make it unique.  All of the elements are good conductors of electric current, but silver and copper are better than most.

8. Transition Metals  While many of the properties of transition metals are similar, each metal has specific properties that make it unique.  All of the elements are good conductors of electric current, but silver and copper are better than most.  Because copper is less expensive and more available that silver, it is usually used for the electrical wiring in buildings.

9. Transition Metals  Iron, nickel, and titanium are especially strong among the metals, so they are commonly used as structural materials in buildings and vehicles.

10. Transition Metals  Iron, nickel, and titanium are especially strong among the metals, so they are commonly used as structural materials in buildings and vehicles.  Gold and platinum are extremely unreactive and do not tarnish when exposed to air and water vapor.

11. Transition Metals  Iron, nickel, and titanium are especially strong among the metals, so they are commonly used as structural materials in buildings and vehicles.  Gold and platinum are extremely unreactive and do not tarnish when exposed to air and water vapor.  These metals are used in jewelry and as electrical components in sensitive equipment when this resistance makes them very useful.

12. Transition Metals  Most of the transition metals are hard and shiny.

13. Transition Metals  Most of the transition metals are hard and shiny.  They are much less reactive than the alkali metals and the alkaline earth metals.

14. Transition Metals  Most of the transition metals are hard and shiny.  They are much less reactive than the alkali metals and the alkaline earth metals.  In general, the transition metals have rather high melting and boiling points compared with other elements.

15. Transition Metals  Most of the transition metals are hard and shiny.  They are much less reactive than the alkali metals and the alkaline earth metals.  In general, the transition metals have rather high melting and boiling points compared with other elements.  Mercury, however, is a liquid at room temperature even though it is a transition metal.

16. Transition Metals: Lanthanides and Actinides  Included in the transition metals are the two partial rows at the bottom of the table.

17. Transition Metals: Lanthanides and Actinides  Included in the transition metals are the two partial rows at the bottom of the table.  These elements, known as the lanthanides and actinides, are often called rare earth metals.

18. Transition Metals: Lanthanides and Actinides  Uranium and plutonium have been used as fuel for nuclear power since the middle of the twentieth century.

19. Transition Metals: Lanthanides and Actinides  Uranium and plutonium have been used as fuel for nuclear power since the middle of the twentieth century.  Many of the lanthanides have become very important in the last few decades because they have properties that make them useful in parts for computers and communication devices and in manufacturing powerful magnets.

20. Posttransition Metals  There are a few metals located in Groups 13-16.

21. Posttransition Metals  There are a few metals located in Groups 13-16.  These metals are generally not very reactive and have properties that are similar to those of the transition metals.

22. Posttransition Metals  There are a few metals located in Groups 13-16.  These metals are generally not very reactive and have properties that are similar to those of the transition metals.  Except for aluminum and gallium in Group 13, these metals are found in the lower part of a column.

23. Posttransition Metals  Familiar posttransition metals are aluminum, tin, and lead.

24. Posttransition Metals  Familiar posttransition metals are aluminum, tin, and lead.  Aluminum is often used to construct the bodies of airplanes.

25. Posttransition Metals  Familiar posttransition metals are aluminum, tin, and lead.  Aluminum is often used to construct the bodies of airplanes.  Aluminum atoms have less mass that most other metals.