Block of the periodic table
As a block in the periodic table , chemical elements are grouped according to the most energetic atomic orbitals of their electron shell . A block combines several groups of the periodic table .
A distinction is made between the following blocks:
- s-block : compared to the previous element, there is an additional electron in an s-orbital . This block includes hydrogen , helium and the elements of the 1st and 2nd main group ( alkali metals and alkaline earth metals ).
- p-block : compared to the previous element, there is an additional electron in a p-orbital . All other main group elements belong to this block, i.e. the earth metals , carbon group , nitrogen group , chalcogens , halogens and noble gases .
- d-block : compared to the previous element, there is an additional electron in a d-orbital . These electrons are not located in the outermost shell , but one below (cf. electron configuration , structural principle ). Since these elements only have one or (mostly) two outer electrons each , they show a similar chemical behavior. All subgroup elements belong to this block .
- f-block : compared to the previous element, there is an additional electron in an f-orbital . These electrons are also not in the outermost shell, but in the third outermost shell. The chemical similarity in this block is therefore even more pronounced than in the d-block. The f-block includes the lanthanides and actinides .
- g-block (in the extended periodic table , purely hypothetical): compared to the previous element, there is an additional electron in a g-orbital The g-block is a segment of the superactinoids .