General Characteristics of p-block elements:

Electronic configuration ns2np1-6(except He).

p- block elements show variable Oxidation State equals the total number of Valence Electrons (total
number of electrons present in s and p subshell).

They can exhibit both negative and positive oxidation States.

Most of the elements form covalent bonds; some also form ionic bonds.

Tendency to show inert pair effect.

It consists of metals, nonmetals, metalloids, halogens, and noble gases.

Group 16 or VI A: Oxygen Family or Chalcogens

General electronic configuration: (ns2 np4)

8 Oxygen (O) 1s2 2s22p4 or [He] 2s2 2p4

16 Sulphur (S) 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p4 or [Ne] 3s2 3p4

34 Selenium(Se) 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p4 or [Ar] 3d10 4s2 4p4

52 Tellurium(Te) 1s2 2s2 2p6, 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 5s25p4 or [Kr] 4d10 5s2 5p4

84 Polonium(Po) 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 4f14 5s2 5p6 5d10 6s2 6p4

Or [Xe] 5d10 6s2 6p4

General characteristics of the oxygen family

● Atoms and ionic radii: As the number of shells increases, the atom and

Ionic radii increase from top to bottom within the group.

● Ionization enthalpy: Due to the expansion of atoms, the ionization enthalp

Y decreases within the group.

● Electron gain enthalpy: Due to the compact nature of oxygen, the electron

Gain enthalpy is lower than that of sulfur. After sulfur, the electron gain

Enthalpy is reduced within the group.

● Electronegativity: Electronegativity decreases within the group.

This means that metallic properties increase in the oxygen-to-polonium Group.

● Oxidized state: Elements in group 16 show oxidized state -2, +2, +4, +6. –2

Reactivity to Hydrogen: All 16 elements in the group form hydrides H2E (E = S,

Thermal Stability: The thermal stability of the hydrides of Group 16 elements is-

H2O> H2S> H2Se> H2Te> H2Po

Acidity: The acidic character of hydrides of group 16 elements increases down

The group. H2O< H2S< H2Se< H2Te.

Reducing character: The reducing character also decreases down the group due

To the decreasing bond dissociation enthalpy. H2O < H2S < H2Se < H2Te < H2Po

Group 17 or VII A: Fluorine Family or Halogens

General electronic configuration: (ns2 np5)

9 Fluorine (F) 1s2 2s22p5 or [He] 2s2 2p5

17 Chlorine (Cl) 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p5 or [Ne] 3s2 3p5

35 Bromine(Br) 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p5 or [Ar] 3d10 4s2 4p5

53 Iodine(I) 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 5s25p5 or [Kr] 4d10 5s2 5p5

85 Astatine(At) 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 4f14 5s2 5p6 5d10 6s2 6p5

Or [Xe] 5d10 6s2 6p5

Oxidation state:

● All halogen group elements show an oxidation state of -1. However,

Elements such as chlorine, bromine, and iodine also exhibit +1, +3, +5, and +7 states.

● This higher oxidation state of chlorine, bromine, and iodine is realized

When these halogens are combined with small and highly electronegative

Atoms of fluorine and oxygen.

● The oxides and oxoacids of chlorine and bromine have the +4 and +6 states.

There are no valence d orbitals in the fluorine atom, so it cannot expand its Octet.

● Fluorine, the most electronegative element, only has an oxidation state of -1.

Trends in periodic table:

1) Ionic and atomic radii

The nuclear and atomic radii of these elements increase steadily as we move down

The group. This is done due to the addition of another level of energy. They have

Minimal atomic radii compared to other elements in related periods. This can be
Attributed to the fact that their atomic charge is relatively strong.

2) Ionization enthalpy

These elements have a higher ionization enthalpy. This value continues to

Decrease as we move down the group. This happens because of the increase in

Kernel size. However, it is interesting to note that fluorine, due to its tiny size, has

The highest ionization enthalpy of any other halogen!

3) Enthalpy of electron gain

The electron gain enthalpy of these elements becomes less negative as you move

Down the group. Fluorine has a lower enthalpy than chlorine. We can attribute

This to the small size and smaller 2p subshell of the fluorine atom.

4) Electro-negativity

Halogens show high values of electronegativity. However, it slowly decreases as you move down the
group from fluorine to iodine. This can be attributed to the Increase in nuclear radii as one moves down
the group.

Physical properties

● Physical state: Group 17 elements are found in various physical states. For Example, fluorine and
chlorine are gases. On the other hand, bromine is a Liquid, and iodine is a solid.

● Color: These elements have different colours. For example, while fluorine Has a pale yellow colour,
iodine has a deep purple colour.

● Solubility: Fluorine and chlorine are soluble in water. On the other hand, Bromine and iodine are much
less soluble in water.

● Melting and boiling points: These elements’ melting and boiling points Increase as we move up the
group from fluorine to iodine. Therefore, Fluorine has the lowest boiling and melting points.

Chemical properties

1) Oxidizing power

All halogens are excellent oxidizing agents. Of the list, fluorine is the most Effective oxidizing agent. It is
able to oxidize all halide particles to halogen. The oxidizing power decreases as we move down the
group. Halide particles also act As reducing agents. However, their reduction capacity also decreases in
the group.

2) Reaction with hydrogen

All halogens react with hydrogen to produce acidic hydrogen halides. The acidity of these hydrogen
halides increases from HF to HI. Fluorine reacts violently and Chlorine requires sunlight. On the other
hand, bromine reacts when heated and Iodine needs a catalyst.
 3) Reaction with oxygen

Halogens react with oxygen to form oxides. However, it was found that the oxides Are not permanent. In
addition to oxides, halogens also form a number of halogen Oxoacids and oxoanions.

4) Reaction with metals

● Because halogens are very reactive, they react with most metals Immediately to form the resulting
metal halides. For example, sodium reacts with chlorine gas to form sodium chloride.

This process is exothermic and emits a bright yellow light and large Amounts of heat energy.

● Metal halides are ionic in nature. This is due to the highly electronegative nature of halogens and the
high electropositivity of metals.

● This ionic character of the halides is reduced from fluorine to iodine.

Group 18 or VIII A: Neon Family or Noble Gases/ Inert Gases/ Zero Gases

General electronic configuration: (ns2 np6)

10 Neon (Ne) 1s2 2s22p6 or [He] 2s2 2p6

18 Argon (Ar) 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 or [Ne] 3s2 3p6

36 Krypton(Kr) 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 or [Ar] 3d10 4s2 4p6

54 Xenon(Xe) 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 5s25p6 or [Kr] 4d10 5s2 5p6

86 Radon(Rn) 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 4f14 5s2 5p6 5d10 6s2 6p6

Or [Xe] 5d10 6s2 6p6

Compounds of p-block elements

Ozone- An allotrope of oxygen, ozone is a gas found in the earth’s atmosphere. When oxygen reacts with
the sun’s ultraviolet rays, ozone is formed. It protects the earth from the harmful rays of the sun.

Ammonia – A compound made from hydrogen and nitrogen, ammonia forms when animals’ bodies
decay. It is also present in soil and is important for life.

Sulphuric acid – It is a liquid that is colourless and corrosive. It releases heat when mixed with water.

Phosphine – is formed when phosphorus is heated in potassium carbonate solution and is an important
part of the biochemical cycle of phosphorus.

Uses of p-block elements

The properties of p-block elements are such that these elements in their various forms become
extremely useful. Some of the uses are listed below –

Borax is used as a cleaning agent to harden the steel in aircrafts and bulletproof vests.

Aluminium can be used for making utensils, foils, cables etc.

Iodine is used to produce iodine tinctures in labs.

Chlorine acts as a disinfectant and is used in swimming pools.

Trends across Periodic table:

● Atomic Radius: The radius of nuclei increases moving down a group with An increasing number of
protons. This is a consequence of the expansion Of the additional level at each progressive element as it
moves down the Group.

● Electron Gain Enthalpy: Group 18 elements exhibit very stable electron Configurations. They do not
tend to accept electrons.

● Ionization Potential: They have a high ionization potential due to their Closed electronic configurations.
This value decreases as you move down The group due to the expansion of core size.

Physical properties

● Due to their stable nature, we find these elements as monatomic gases in The free state.

● They are colorless, tasteless and odorless gases. Particles of these elements Have weak Van der Waals
forces. This power increases as you move down The group. This is due to the expansion of the
polarization capacity of the Molecules.

● They exhibit low melting and boiling points. We can attribute this to weak

Van der Waals forces. Melting and boiling points increase as we move down the group.

Chemical properties

● These elements are chemically inert due to their stable electronic Configuration.

● In 1962, Neil Bartlett hypothesized that xenon should react with platinum

Hexafluoride. He was the first to create a compound of xenon, called xenon Hexafluoroplatinate (V).
Later, many xenon compounds were integrated, Including fluorides, oxyfluorides, and oxides.

● The ionization enthalpies of helium, argon, and neon are too high to form Compounds.

● Krypton only forms krypton difluoride because its ionization enthalpy is Slightly higher than that of
xenon.

● Although radon has a lower ionization enthalpy than xenon, it forms only A few compounds, such as
radon difluoride, and a few complexes because Radon has no stable isotopes. In any case, xenon forms a
particularly Significant number of compounds.