Electronic Configuration and Periodic Table by Blocks

In the periodic table, elements are grouped from groups 1 – 7 and 0.

In writing electronic configuration, energyEnergy is the ability to do work. Energy exists in several forms such as heat, kinetic or mechanical energy, light, potential energy, and electrical energy. Units of Energy: The SI unit... More levels are used, which correspond to the filling of K, L, M, and N shells. In every energy level, there exist sub-levels which represent the filling of s, p, d & f orbitals. The following electronic configuration represents the elements in the outermost shell of each group.

Groups 1 and 2 are the s-block elements. They are the alkali and alkaline earth metals. They are the most reactive metals. Groups 3 to 7 and 0 form the p-block elements.

As we move across the periodic table from groups 3 to 7 and 0, the number of valence electrons in the outermost shell increases progressively by one across the period from left to right. Metallic properties decrease across each period and non-metallic properties increase across each period.

The transition elements, that occur between groups 2 and 3, form the d-block elements. They are the elements in which the outer electrons are in d-orbitals. They are all metals. The lanthanides and actinides series also occur between groups 2 and 3, in periods 6 and 7 respectively. They form the f-block elements. Their outermost electrons are in the f-orbitals. They are inner transition elements, they are also called rare earth metals.

             

The elements are classified into four blocks: s-block, p-block, d-block and f-block based on the orbitals into which differentiating electron enters. This classification is based on electronic configuration.

s-block contains 2 groups, p-block contains 6 groups, d-block contains 10 groups and f-block contains 14 groups.

s-block is at the extreme left and p-block is at the extreme right of the periodic table. d-block is kept in between s-block and p-block. f-block is separately placed below the main body of the table.

Helium is an s-block element with properties like those of the p-block noble gases. The optimal solution is to show He in the s-block but to colour it as a noble gas or a p-block element.

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