P Block Elements On The Periodic Table | Introduction

Updated on 21 August 2022

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Updated on 21 August 2022

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The elements in the modern periodic table in which the last electron enters any of the three p-orbitals of their respective shells are the elements of the P block. A p subshell has three degenerate p orbitals. Each p orbital can accommodate two electrons, therefore there are six groups of P block elements in total.

P block elements have the tendency to lose an electron which makes them good conductors of heat and electricity and appears shiny. P block elements consist of the elements of group 13(boron family), group 14(carbon family), group 15(nitrogen family), group 16(oxygen family), group 17(fluorine family), and group 18(neon family).

Given below is a list of all elements that comprise the P block

Boron (B)
Carbon (C)
Nitrogen (N)
Oxygen (O)
Fluorine (F)
Neon (Ne)
Aluminium (Al)
Silicon (Si)
Phosphorus (P)
Sulphur (S)
Chlorine (Cl)
Argon (Ar)
Gallium (Ga)
Germanium (Ge)
Arsenic (As)
Selenium (Se)
Bromine (Br)
Krypton (Kr)
Indium (In)
Tin (Sn)
Antimony (Sb)
Tellurium (Te)
Iodine (I)
Xenon (Xe)
Thallium (Tl)
Lead (Pb)
Bismuth (Bi)
Polonium (Po)
Astatine (At)
Radon (Rn)
Nihonium (Nh)
Flerovium (Fl)
Moscovium (Mc)
Livermorium (Lv)
Tennessine (Ts)
Oganesson (Og)

Tips - How to learn the periodic table

CHARACTERISTICS OF P BLOCK ELEMENT

The general electronic configuration of the p block elements is ns²np^1-6. Helium is an exception. The inner core configuration of these elements varies greatly. Due to this difference, the chemical and physical properties are also different for different elements.
The oxidation of p block elements is at maximum when it is equal to the sum of P and S electrons. That is to say when it is equal to the total number of valence electrons.
P Block elements consist of both nonmetals and metalloids.

EXCEPTIONS IN THE P BLOCK ELEMENTS

Helium doesn’t have the same electronic configuration as the standard configuration of the P block elements
The first member of the P block elements differs in size and hence each and every property that depends on size changes.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many elements are in the P block category?

The P block is the area of the modern periodic table that includes columns IIIA to VIIIA except for helium. There are 35 elements in the P block of the modern periodic table.

Which are the 17 nonmetals in the P block?

The 17 nonmetal elements of the P block are hydrogen, helium, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, fluorine, neon, phosphorus, sulphur, chlorine, argon, selenium, bromine, krypton, iodine, xenon, and radon.

What is the general electronic configuration of the P block elements?

The general electronic configuration of the p block elements is ns²np^1-6, except helium.

This is a brief description of the P Block of the modern periodic table. Happy Learning!

IIT Entrance Class 12 (PCM) Sciences