GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF TRANSITION ELEMENTS

(i) Except for mercury, which is a liquid at room temperature all other elements are solid metals exhibiting all the characteristics of a metal.

(ii) The show variable oxidation states unlike s and p block elements.

(iii) They, and some of their compounds, show catalytic properties.

(iv) Their compounds are coloured.

(v) They have great tendency to form complex compounds.

(vi) They form alloys and interstitial compounds.

Conductivity  

All the transition metals are good conductors of heat and electricity. Silver is the best conductor of electricity.

Density

Because of small size of their atoms and strong metallic bonding the density and hardness of transition elements are high.