Gethin: Today, we’ve got super science teacher Miss Armit with us. What she doesn’t know about chemistry is not worth knowing. And today, we’re going to be looking at the periodic table.

Miss Armit – explain.

Miss Armit: So what we’re going to look at today are the metal elements in Group 1 of the periodic table, along with the metal elements in the transition metal block of the periodic table and their properties.

Gethin: I think this is going to be good, isn’t it.

So we’re going to talk about transition metals, which are found in the middle of the periodic table. What are their key properties?

Miss Armit: So their key properties are they conduct electricity, they conduct heat, they are malleable – which means they’re bendy – and they’re shiny.

Gethin: All right. And what metals are we talking about here and what are they used for.

Miss Armit: Well, we’ve got copper and it’s a really good conductor of electricity, so we use that in our wires. We’ve also got iron and aluminium and they’re great at conducting heat, so we use these metals for our pots and pans. And gold and silver are used in jewellery, because they’re shiny, they’re malleable and unreactive with oxygen, so they don’t rust easily.

Can you name a liquid transition metal?

Gethin: I would say mercury.

Miss Armit: Very good.

Gethin: Yeah.

Miss Armit: It’s the only liquid transistor metal and because of its properties it’s perfect for a thermometer. Why do you think that is?

Gethin: Well, it’s something to do with the heat.

Miss Armit: Yeah, because mercury’s a great conductor of heat. So, when it gets hot the space between the particles expands and then this rises up the thermometer.

Gethin: So, it’s great for thermometers, but not so good for pots and pans.

Miss Armit: Exactly.

Gethin: They would just melt and it would just make a mess anyway.