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S and P block elements

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Chapter Overview
1. Electronic Configuration

2. Group trends:

Atomic radii

Ionic radii

electronegativity

Ionization Potential

Melting and Boiling Points.

Electrical Conductivity.

3. Chemical properties of s-block elements

Concepts
Electronic Configuration
s-block elements

Elements found in the s-block are positioned on the far left of the table and encompass
groups IA and IIA. Their valence shell electronic configuration consists of ns1 for alkali
metals and ns2 for alkaline earth metals.

p-block elements

p-block, which comprises groups IIIA to VIIIA. Elements within this block possess
valence shell electronic configurations ranging from ns2 np1 to ns2 np6 

S and P block elements 1

 Atomic Size or Atomic Radius
“It is the average distance between the centre of nucleus of atom to its outer most
shell of electrons”
The absolute value of atomic radius cannot be determined because:

It is not possible to locate the exact position of electrons. in an atom as an orbital has
no sharp boundaries.

It is not possible to isolate an individual atom for its size determination due to sharp
boundaries and its small size.

In a group of atoms, the probability distribution of electrons is influenced by the

presence of neighboring atoms hence size of an atom may change from one
environment to another.
The values of atomic radii are derived from bond lengths measured by various
techniques such as X-ray diffraction, electron diffraction, infrared spectroscopy,
nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy etc.
As the absolute value of atomic size cannot be determine so it is expressed in terms
of the operational definitions such as ionic radius, covalent radius, van der Waals
radius and metallic radius

Remember

Metallic radius > Anionic radius > Van der Waal radius > Covalent radius > Cationic
radius

Periodic Trend:

S and P block elements 2

 In a Period: On moving from left to right, atomic size decreases

Reason. The no. of shell / the no of atomic orbitals are same, while the no. of electron
increases as a result effective nuclear charge increases.
IA > IIA > IIIA > IVA > VA > VIA > VIIA < VIIIA

For example: Li > Be > B > C > N > O > F

Exception: Size of VIIIA is greater than VIIA, because in case of noble gases Van der
Waal radius is considered..
Ionic Radii
Size of cation is always smaller than its atom:
As during cation formation outermost orbit is destroyed and number of valence electron
decreases thus, Ze increases and size decreases.
1
Size of cation α Z ​ or magnitude of positive charge.
eff ​

M+3 < M+2 < M+ < M

Example: Fe+3 < Fe+2 < F+ 

Size of anion is greater than size of its atom:

During anion formation electrons are taken up so Zeff decreases and size increases.

Size of anion αmagnitude of negative charge

M−4 > M−3 > M−2 > M− > M

Example: O−2 > O− > O

In general, Anion > Atom > Cation
−
Example: X > X > X+ 
Electronegativity
“The ability of an atom to attract the shared paired of electrons towards itself”

Periodic Trend:
In a Period: On moving from left to right, E.N increases.
Reason

Increase in proton number

S and P block elements 3

 Along the period no. of shell/ no. of orbits remains same. Increase in atomic no.
associate with increase in effective nuclear charge.

In a Group: Decreases down the group

Reason:

Addition of successive shells, effective nuclear charge decreases, increase in shielding

effect.
Exception: IIIA Decrease from B to Al, then Increase from Ga to Tl
Ionization Energy
“The minimum amount of energy required to remove an electron from the isolated
gaseous atom”.

e.g:
H → H+ + 1 e− ∆H = +1313 KJ/mol
Li → Li+ + 1 e− ∆H = +520 KJ/mol
Points To Remember:

I.E α 1/Reactivity

Noble gases Highest I.E for any period due to stable configuration hence the are
highly stable and least reactive among all elements in periodic table.

He has highest First I.E, i.e. (2372 KJ/mol), so least reactivity in periodic table

Alkali metals Lowest I.E α Highly unstable α Highly reactive.

Cs has lowest first I.E, i.e. (374 KJ/mol)

Periodic Trend:
In a Period: On moving from left to right, I.E increases.
Reason:

Increase in proton number

Along the period no. of shell/ no. of orbits remains same. Increase in atomic no.
associate with increase in effective nuclear charge.

Exception:

Ionization energy of nitrogen is greater than oxygen because nitrogen has half filled
(stable) configuration.

Be, Mg & Ca have fully filled ns2 orbitals hence higher I.E than B, Al & Ga
respectively.

S and P block elements 4

 i.e: Be > B Mg > Al Ca > Ga
In a Group: Decreases down the group.

Reason:
Addition of successive shells, effective nuclear charge decreases, increase in shielding
effect.

IA & IIA Follow general trend (decreases down the group)

IIIA Irregular trend

Exception: Ga > Al & Tl > In

IVA Follow general trend

Exception: Pb > Sn

VA, VIA, VIIA & VIIIA Follow general trend.

Applications of lonization Energy

1. Index to metallic character

Ionization energy is an index to metallic character. The elements which have Low
ionization energies are metals.

High ionization energies are non-metals.

Intermediate ionization energies are metalloids.

2. Ionization energy and Valency of an element

The gaps in the first, second, third and higher ionization energies help us to guess
the valency of an element. If, there is sufficient gap between first ionization energy
and second one, then the element shows valency of one.

For example, carbon has six electrons and has six I.E values. The reasonable gap of
I.E is present between fourth and fifth. That is why carbon has valency four.

3. Reactivity of metals
The reactivity of metals is inversely proportional to ionization energy. Metals will low
ionization energy (IA group) are highly reactive and vice versa
Melting Point & Boiling Point
"Melting point and Boiling point of an element shows about how strong the atoms or
molecules are bound together."

S and P block elements 5

 Trend in melting point & boiling point in Period 2 & 3.
Increasing from IA to IVA then decreases from VA to VIIIA

The increase in melting and boiling point is due to increasing no of binding electron,
and carbon and silicon has large covalent structures.

The decrease in Melting and Boiling point from N to F because they exist in simple
molecular form and has low intermolecular force.

Exception: S > P

Reason:
Sulfur consists of S8 rings of atoms. Sulphur molecules are bigger than phosphorus
​

molecules, and so the van der Waals attractions will be stronger, leading to a higher
melting and boiling point.

Electrical Conductivity

Increases from sodium to aluminium then decreases to silicon, the remaining element
have negligible conductivity in period 3.

For an element to conduct electricity, it must contain free electrons. Metals are good
conductor of electricity and Non-Metals are poor conductor.

Na, Mg & Al are metals.

Silicon is semiconductor.

P, S, Cl and Ar are non-metals and do not conduct electricity because P, S, Cl form

simple molecular form and has no free electron and Ar is mono atomic gas.

S and P block elements 6

 Chemical Properties

Reaction With Oxygen:

Alkali Metal:

Lithium forms normal oxide on with oxygen.

4 Li + O2 → 2 Li2 O ​ ​

Sodium form normal oxide and peroxide both.

4 Na + O2 → 2 Na2 O (Limited supply of oxygen)

​ ​

2 Na + O2 → Na2 O2  (Excess supply of oxygen)

​ ​ ​

K, Rb and Cs form super oxide

K + O2 → KO2 
​ ​

Rb + O2 → RbO2 ​ ​

Cs + O2 → CsO2 
​ ​

Alkaline Earth Metals:

Elements of Group IIA react with oxygen at high temperature to form normal oxides.

2 M + O2 ⟶ 2 MO (Where M=Be, Mg, Ca)

​

For example:
2 Be + O2 → 2 BeO ​ (800 ∘ C)
2 Mg + O2 → 2 MgO ​

2 Mg + Air → 2 MgO + Mg 3 N2  ​ ​

S and P block elements 7

 2 Sr + O2 → 2 SrO
​

Barium forms peroxide.

Ba + O2 → BaO2 
​ ​ (500 ∘ C − 600∘ C)

Points to Remember:
Alkaline earth metals forms stronger metallic bonds.

They have greater hardness, melting point and boiling points than IA elements due to
their small size.

Mg burns in air forming a mixture of oxide and nitride and evolving a lot of heat.
BeOis covalent but all other are ionic.
BeOand MgOare insoluble and all other are soluble.
BeOis amphoteric oxide, others are basic oxides.
Baand Raform peroxides when reacts with oxygen.
Ca+2 and Mg +2 are important constituents of chlorophyll.

Reaction With Oxygen:

Alkali Metal:
Elements of Group IA react with water to form respective hydroxide.

M + H2 O → MOH + H2 
​ ​

For example:
2 Li + 2 H2 O → 2 Li(OH) + H2 
​ ​

2 Na + 2 H2 O → 2 NaOH + H2  ​ ​

Alkaline Earth Metals:

Be does not react with water at any temperature.

Mg react with boiling water/ steam to produce MgO and H2  ​

Mg + H2 O → MgO + H2 
​ ​

Mg react with cold water to produce Mg(OH)2  and H2  ​ ​

Mg + 2 H2 O → Mg(OH)2 + H2  ​ ​ ​

Ca, Sr and Ba react with water to form respective Hydroxides

Ca + 2 H2 O → Ca(OH)2 + H2 
​ ​ ​

Sr + 2 H2 O → Sr(OH)2 + H2 
​ ​ ​

S and P block elements 8

 Ba + 2 H2 O → Ba(OH)2 + H2 
​ ​ ​

Other

P, S and Ar does not react with water.

Points to Remember:
Solubility of hydroxides increases down the group.
Be(OH)2 < Mg(OH)2 < Ca(OH)2 < Ba(OH)2 
​ ​ ​ ​

Mg(OH)2 is weakly basic but other are strong bases

Solubility of carbonates and sulphates decreases down the group.

Reaction With Halogen:

Halides and their solubility.

Group IA: LiX < NaX < KX < RbX < CsX
Group IIA: BeX2 ​
< MgX2 < CaX2 < BaX2 
​ ​ ​

Aluminium: AlF3 ​ > AlCl3 > AlBr3 > AlI3 

​ ​ ​

Important Questions
1. Energy required to remove an electron from gaseous neutral atom is:

a. Electron affinity

b. Lattice energy

c. Ionization energy

d. Crystal energy

2. The elements for which the value of ionization energy is low can

a. Gain electrons readily

b. Lose electron less readily

c. Gain electrons with difficulty

d. Lose electron readily

3. Which one remains same along a period?

a. Atomic radius

b. Melting point

c. Number of shells (orbits)

S and P block elements 9

 d. Electrical conductivity

4. More the ionization energy of an element

a. More the electro positivity

b. Less the metallic character

c. More the reducing power

d. Bigger the atomic radius

5. Along a period, atomic radius decreases. This gradual decrease in radius is due to:

a. Increase in number of shells

b. Increase in number of protons in the nucleus

c. Melting and boiling points first decrease then increase

d. Melting and boiling points first increase then decrease

6. What is the trend of melting and boiling points of the elements of short periods as we
move from left to right in a periodic table?

a. Melting and boiling points decrease gradually

b. Melting and boiling points first decrease then increase

c. Melting and boiling points increase gradually

d. Melting and boiling points first increase then decrease

7. Arrange the following elements according to the trends of ionization energies C, N, Ne,
B

a. B<C<N<Ne

b. Ne <N < C< B

1. Ne<B<C<N

2. B<N<C<Ne

8. Keeping in view the size of atoms, which order is correct?

a. Ar > CI

b. N > C

c. Li> Be

d. P > Si

9. Which one of the following will have the smallest radius?

S and P block elements 10

 a. Al+3 
b. Mg +2 
c. Si+3 
d. Na+ 
10. The ionic radius of fluoride ion is:

a. 72 pm

b. 136 pm

c. 95 pm

d. 157 pm

11. Ionic radius along the period decreases due to:

a. Addition of a new shell

b. High Ionization energy

c. Increase in nuclear charge

d. Decrease in nuclear charge

12. Down the group acid-base behavior of metallic oxides of group IIA elements changes to

a. More basic

b. No change

c. Less basic

d. More acidic

13. In period 2 and period 3 maximum melting point shown by elements

a. Lithium and sodium

b. Carbon and silicon

c. Neon and argon

d. Nitrogen and phosphorous

14. The strongest acid among the following is:

a. HF

b. HBr

c. HCI

d. HI

S and P block elements 11

 15. When the elements of group IIA are exposed to air, they quickly become coated with
layer of oxide. What is the purpose of this oxide layer

a. The oxide layer exposes the metal to atmospheric attack

b. The oxide layer increases the reactivity of metal

c. The oxide layer protects the metal from further attack

d. No layer forms

16. Alkaline earth metal hydroxides decompose on heating. Which of the following reactions
is a correct representation of this decomposition?

a. 2 M(OH)2 (s) ​

​
​ ​
MO (s) + H2 O (l)  ​
​ ​ ​

b. 2 MOH(s) ​
​ ​ 2 MO (s) + H2 (g)  ​
​ ​

​
​

c. MOH(s) ​
​ ​ M2 O (s) + H2 O (l) 
​

​
​ ​

​
​

d. 4 MOH(s) ​
​ ​ 4 M(s) + H2 O (l) + O2 
​
​ ​

​
​ ​

17. Melting points of group II-A elements are higher than those of group I-A because:

a. Atoms of II-A elements have smaller size

b. II-A elements are more reactive

c. Atoms of II-A elements provide two binding electrons

d. I-A elements have smaller atomic radius

18. Among the following, which one is least reactive metal:

a. Na

b. Mg

c. Be

d. Ca

19. Melting point of Na & Mg group decreases down the group due to:

a. Strong electronegativity

b. Increment in size

c. Strong attractive forces

d. High Ionization energy

20. Which element has the highest electron affinity among halogens?

a. F

b. I

S and P block elements 12

 c. Cl

d. Br

21. Which one of the following properties decreases across the third period of elements in
the periodic table?

a. Electronegatively

b. Ability to act as reducing agent

c. Ionization energy

d. Melting and boiling points

22. In the 3rd period of the periodic table which of following property is decreasing
consistently?

a. Electrical conductivity

b. Ionization energy

c. Melting point

d. Atomic radius

23. In the third period of elements, there lies element "X" which is metallic in nature and it
can reduce chlorine gas rapidly. To which group of elements does "x" belong?

a. IIA

b. VIIA

c. IVA

d. IA
+2
24. The hydration energy of Mg is less than

a. Na+ 
b. Ca+2 
c. Li+ 
d. Al+3 
25. Which alkaline earth metal makes peroxides?

a. Ba

b. Be

c. Mg

d. Ca

S and P block elements 13

 26. Lithium reacts with air to form

a. Li2 O
​

b. Li3 N
​

c. Li2 O2 + Li2 CO3 

​ ​ ​ ​

d. Both A and B

27. How many elements are there in the 3 period of periodic table?

a. 18

b. 8

c. 32

d. 10

28. Which oxides of "K" contain more oxygen than is normal oxide?

a. Peroxide

b. Super oxide

c. Both contain equal quantity

d. None of the above

29. Ionization energy decrease down the group from top to bottom due to:

a. Decrease in atomic size

b. Increase in atomic mass

c. Increase in shielding effect of the intervening electrons

d. Increase in proton number

30. Oxidation number of particular element can be directly or indirectly inferred from its:

a. Physical state

b. Group number

c. Atomic size

d. Atomic mass

Answers Key
1 c 11 c 21 b

2 d 12 a 22 d

S and P block elements 14

 3 c 13 b 23 d

4 b 14 d 24 d

5 b 15 c 25 a

6 d 16 a 26 d

7 a 17 c 27 b

8 c 18 c 28 b

9 c 19 b 29 c

10 b 20 c 30 d

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S and P block elements 15