Group 10 element

"Group 10" redirects here. For the rugby league competition, see Group 10 Rugby League.

Group →	4
↓ Period
4	28 Ni
5	46 Pd
6	78 Pt
7	110 Ds
Legend Transition metal Primordial element Synthetic

A Group 10 element is one in the series of elements in group 10 (IUPAC style) in the periodic table, which consists of the d-block transition metals nickel (Ni), palladium (Pd), platinum (Pt), and darmstadtium (Ds). All known isotopes of Ds are radioactive with short half-lives, and it is not known to occur in nature; only minute quantities have been synthesized in laboratories.

Like other groups, the members of this family show patterns in its electron configuration, especially the outermost shells (though for this family it is particularly weak with palladium being an exceptional case). The relativistic stabilization of the 7s orbital is the explanation to the unusual electron configuration of darmstadtium.

Chemistry

H																	He
Li	Be											B	C	N	O	F	Ne
Na	Mg											Al	Si	P	S	Cl	Ar
K	Ca	Sc	Ti	V	Cr	Mn	Fe	Co	Ni	Cu	Zn	Ga	Ge	As	Se	Br	Kr
Rb	Sr	Y	Zr	Nb	Mo	Tc	Ru	Rh	Pd	Ag	Cd	In	Sn	Sb	Te	I	Xe
Cs	Ba	*	Hf	Ta	W	Re	Os	Ir	Pt	Au	Hg	Tl	Pb	Bi	Po	At	Rn
Fr	Ra	**	Rf	Db	Sg	Bh	Hs	Mt	Ds	Rg	Cn	Uut	Uuq	Uup	Uuh	Uus	Uuo
		*	La	Ce	Pr	Nd	Pm	Sm	Eu	Gd	Tb	Dy	Ho	Er	Tm	Yb	Lu
		**	Ac	Th	Pa	U	Np	Pu	Am	Cm	Bk	Cf	Es	Fm	Md	No	Lr

Group 10 in the periodic table

Z	Element	No. of electrons/shell
28	nickel	2, 8, 17, 1
46	palladium	2, 8, 18, 18
78	platinum	2, 8, 18, 32, 17, 1
110	darmstadtium	2, 8, 18, 32, 32, 16, 2

Darmstadtium has not been isolated in pure form, and its properties have not been conclusively observed; only nickel, palladium, and platinum have had their properties experimentally confirmed. All three elements are typical silvery-white transition metals, hard, and have high melting and boiling points.

Properties

Group 10 metals are white to light grey in color, and possess a high luster, a resistance to tarnish (oxidation) at STP, are highly ductile, and enter into oxidation states of +2 and +4, with +1 being seen in special conditions. The existence of a +3 state is debated, as the state could be an illusory state created by +2 and +4 states. Theory suggests that group 10 metals may produce a +6 oxidation state under precise conditions, but this remains to be proven conclusively in the laboratory.

Applications

The group ten metals share several uses. These include:

• Decorative purposes, in the form of jewelry and electroplating.
• Catalysts in a variety of chemical reactions.
• Metal Alloys.
• Electrical components, due to their predictable changes in electrical resistivity with regard to temperature.
• Superconductors, as components in alloys with other metals.

Biological role and toxicity

Nickel has an important role in the biochemistry of organisms, as part of the active center of enzymes. None of the other group 10 elements have a known biological role, but platinum compounds have widely been used as anticancer drugs. Asides from nickel, the elements are toxic for organisms.

See also

• Platinum group

Notes and references

Explanation of right side periodic table slice:

Transition metals

atomic number in black are solids

solid borders are older than the Earth (Primordial elements)

dashed borders have no isotopes older than the earth