t consists of six groups-group 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18. Group 15 elements are called pnictogens, group-16 elements ate ral.
chalcogens, group-17 ele
S-block and p-block elements are collectively called main or representative elements (except zero group elements)
alled
ents are called halogens and group-18 elements are called noble gases.
General characteristics of p-block elements
) These include metals, metalloids and non-metals, the number of non-metals are much higher than metals and metalloids,
Gi) They show variable oxidation states except fluorine and noble gases.
Group 13 15 16 17 18
4
Oxidation states +3 +4 to-4
+5 to -3+6 to -2 +7 to -1 0
(ii) There is regular increase in non-metallic character from left to right
(iv) They form ionic as well as covalent compounds.
(They have relatively higher value of ionisation energy
as compared
to those of s-block
elements.
(vi) Halogens are strong oxidising agents.
(vi) Most of them are highly electronegative.
(vii) Mostly they form acidic oxides.
(0) Some p-block elements show allotropic property,
for example, carbon, silicon, phosphorus, sulphur,
etc.
(X)Some of these
elements shows catenation, for example,
carbon and silicon.
d-Block elements
In d-block elements, the last electron enters in (n-1d-subshe. Their general electronic configuration is represented as
n-11-10 ns-2, The d-block elements have valence electrons both in their outermost and second outermost penutimate shell. Their
properties are intermediate between s-and p-block elements. Thus, these elements are called transition lements. These elements are
classied into four series, viz, 30, 4d, Sd and 6d series corresponding to the filing of orbitals of 30, 4d, Sd and 6d subshels of thid,
fourth, fifth and sixth energy shells, respectively. Each series consists of 10 elements in each.
3d series: It contains ten elements from Sc (Z = 21) to Zn (Z = 30), in which 3d orbitals are progressively filled.
4d series: It contains ten elements from Y (Z = 39) to Cd (Z = 48), in which 4d orbitals are progressively flled.
5d series: It contains ten elements, La (7= 57) and from Hf (Z =72) to Hg (Z =80), in which 5d orbitals are progressiwelyfilld.
6d series: t contains ten elements, Ac (Z= 89) and from Rf (Z = 104) to Cn (Z = 112), in which 6d orbitals are progressiwely filed.
General characteristics of d-block elements
() They all are metals.
(i) They have high melting and boiling points.
()They are hard, malleable and ductile
(iv) They have high tensile strength.
They are good conductors of heat and electricity.
(vi) They have high density.
(vi) They are more electropositive than p-block elements and less electropositive than s-block elements
(vii) They show variable
oxidation states, e.g., Fe
and Fe* etc.
(ix) They mostly form coloured compounds.
(x)They are paramagnetic in nature.
(Ki)They have high tendency to form complex compounds.
(xii) They form both ionic and covalent compounds.
(xii) Most of them
possess catalytic properties.
ransition elements
must have incomplete penultimate d-subshell either in the neutral atom or in any
one of its
statbie
idation
slates Zn,
Cd and
Hg which
has stable
completely flled d orbitals ie, (n
-1)ans? electronic configuration, do not
show
most of the properties of transition elements. Hence Zn, Cd and Hg are not considered as typical
transition
e ti
Fundamental difference in
the electronic configuration of representative
elements and transit
ition
elements in the representative elements (s-and p-block elements), the valence electrons are present ony
outermost shell while in the transition elements, the valence electrons are present in the outermst shell as wel a
the
d-orbitals of penultimate shel.