Physical properties -atomic radii of transition …

Transition metals share many similar properties including: They can form many compounds with different oxidation states. They can form compounds with different colors. They are metals and conduct electricity. Properties of transition elements include:

• have large charge/radius ratio;
• are hard and have high densities;
• have high melting and boiling points;
• form compounds which are often paramagnetic;
• show variable oxidation states;
• form coloured ions and compounds;
• form compounds with profound catalytic activity;

Subsequently, question is, why do all metals have similar properties? The reason that that elements in the same 'group' have similar chemical properties is because they have the same number of valence electrons. Iron when reacting in chemical reactions loses electrons from its 4s orbital instead of its d orbital.