Types of Elements in Periodic Table: Metals, Metalloids, Non-Metals, Halogens and Noble Gases

The periodic table is a systematic arrangement of elements based on their properties. Elements in the periodic table can broadly be classified into metals, metalloids, non-metals, halogens, and noble gases, each with distinct physical and chemical characteristics. Understanding these types of elements helps in predicting their behaviour in reactions, bonding tendencies, and everyday uses. In this article, we’ll explore the key features and examples of each type of element found across the periodic table.

Read more about the Position of Hydrogen in the Periodic Table, here.

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s-block, p-block, d-block, f-block Elements

The periodic table is divided into different sections called blocks: s-block, p-block, d-block, and f-block. Each block represents where the outermost electrons of the elements are located, which influences their properties. The s-block includes elements like the hydrogen, helium, and the alkali and alkaline earth metals. The p-block contains many essential elements, including elements like iron and copper that are useful in many applications. Lastly the f-block consists of the lanthanides and actinides, often shown separately at the bottom of the table, known for their unique and specialized properties.

s- Block Elements 

• In these elements, the valence electron enters an s-orbital.
• The elements of Group 1 (alkali metals) and Group 2 (alkaline earth metals) which have ns1 and ns2 outermost electronic configuration belong to the s-Block Elements.
• They are all reactive metals with low ionization enthalpies.
• These elements are soft metals, electropositive and form basic oxides.
• Because of high reactivity, they are never found pure in nature.
• The compounds of the s-block elements, with the exception of those of lithium.

Learn more about Amines, here.

p-Block Elements

• Valence electron enters in p-orbital.
• The p-Block Elements comprise those belonging to Group 13 to 18 and these together with the s-Block Elements are called the Representative Elements or Main Group Elements.
• The outer electronic configuration of these elements is ns2 np1.
• It is interesting to note that the non-metals and metalloids exist only in the p-block of the periodic table.
• The non-metallic character of elements decreases down the group. In fact, the heaviest element in each p-block group is the most metallic in nature.
• At the end of each period is a noble gas element with a closed valence shell ns2np6 configuration.

d-Block Elements 

• These elements are called transition elements.
• In d-block elements, a valence electron enters in d-orbital.
• Valence shell electronic configuration is (n-1)d1-10 ns1-2.
• This block contains the elements of groups 3 to 12 of the periodic table.
• The three series of transition metals are known 3d series, 4d series and 5d series.

f-Block Elements 

• The f-block consists of two series lanthanides and actinides of the periodic table.
• The electronic configuration of actinides is irregular.
• Electronic configuration of lanthanides is 6s25d0-24f1-14.
• Elements of this block are also called inner transition elements.

Check the Development of the Periodic Table here.

• The lustrous or shiny elements that form naturally below the surface of the Earth are called Metals. These are elements having positive ions.
• The non-metals on the other hand are elements having negative ions.
• Metalloids are elements with mixed characteristics.

Let’s see how they stand in the periodic table:

Metals 

• It comprises more than 78% of all known elements and appears on the left side of the Periodic Table.
• They are usually solids at room temperature and have high melting and boiling points. They conduct heat and electricity.
• Metals are malleable (Can be flattened into thin sheets) and ductile (Can be drawn into long wires).

Exception

• Mercury is a metal that is liquid at room temperature.
• Gallium and caesium have very low melting points (303K and 302K, respectively).

Also, read about Trends in Periodic Table, here.

Non – Metals 

• Non-metals are located at the top right-hand side of the Periodic Table.
• In a horizontal row, the property of elements changes from metallic on the left to non-metallic on the right.
• Non-metals are usually solids or gases at room temperature with low melting and boiling points.
• They are poor conductors of heat and electricity. Most non-metallic solids are brittle and are neither malleable nor ductile.
• The nonmetallic character increases as one goes from left to right across the Periodic Table. The only liquid non-metal is Bromine.

Exception

Even though most non-metals usually have low melting points, boron and carbon are different. These two elements have very strong bonds in their structure, which makes them solid and hard to melt. That’s why, unlike other non-metals, boron and carbon have unusually high melting points.

Also, check out the Application of Chemistry in Food Industry, here.

Metalloids 

• These elements show properties that are characteristic of both metals and nonmetals are called Semi-metals or metalloids.
• There are 7 metalloids i.e. Boron, Silicon, germanium, arsenic, antimony, tellurium and polonium.
• From left to right the order of increasing metallic character is P<Si<Be<Mg<Na.

Now let’s study two important classes of elements that have unique characteristic properties:

• Halogens
• Noble Gases

Halogens

Halogens are a group of highly reactive elements found in Group 17 of the periodic table.

They have a general electron configuration of ns2np5. Because of their high reactivity, you

Won’t find them in their pure form in nature; they are always combined with other elements. One interesting fact about halogens include fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine. These elements are widely used in everyday products, such as disinfectants and chemicals.

Check more important topics of Chemistry here.

Fluorine (F)

It is a pale yellow gas, it is the most reactive element in halogens. It is the most electronegative element.

Chlorine (Cl)

• It is also called Oxymuriatic acid. It can be manufactured by the electrolysis of Brine.
• It’s a greenish-yellow gas with a pungent and suffocating odour. It is soluble in water and is heavier than air.
• Chlorine is used in making bleaching powder (CaOCl2), extraction of gold and platinum, making poisonous gases such as phosgene, tear gas, mustard gas etc.
• It is also used in making dyes, drugs, compounds such as CCl4 (Tetrachloromethane), DDT (Dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane) etc.

Bromine (Br)

• It is a reddish-brown liquid, it is found in seawater (nearly 0.068%).
• In India, it is found in the Rann of Kutch (Gujarat) in the form of brine.
• It acts as an oxidizing agent and bleaching agent, it is used in the manufacturing of bromide, bromate etc.
• AgBr (Silver Bromide) is used in photography, KBr (Potassium Bromide) is used in sleeping drugs, and pain relievers, it is also used in making tear gas.

Iodine (I)

• It is found in seawater and seaweeds as iodides, it is a non-metallic shining solid.
• In the human body, it exists in the form of thyroxine, which is secreted through the thyroid gland.
• It is used in laboratory reagents, as disinfectants and in antiseptic medicines.

You might also be interested in reading more Chemistry Equations.

Noble Gases 

• Group 18 of the modern periodic table consists of noble gases.
• Examples: Helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, and radon.
• These gases are inert under normal conditions and that’s why they are called Noble gases.
• The valence shell of the inert gases is completely filled, that’s why they do not react with any element.

Helium (He)

• The main source of He is natural gas. Helium and neon are found in minerals of radioactive origin.
• It is a non-inflammable, non-volatile light gas, so it is used in filling balloons and in aircraft tyres.
• Liquid He is used in maintaining a very low temperature in research. A mixture of Hydrogen and Helium is used by divers for respiration as helium is soluble in blood at very high temperatures.

Check out notes on Chemical Reactions, here.

Neon (Ne)

• It is used in discharge tubes and fluorescent bulbs for advertisement display purposes, neon gas is used in greenhouses.
• It is also used in neon lamps which are used to give a symbolic indication to the pilot of the aircraft at the airport.

Argon (Ar)

• It is used to provide an inert atmosphere in the high-temperature metallurgical processes, arc welding of the alloys and for filling electric bulbs.

Also, check out Quantum Numbers and Electronic Configuration, here.

Krypton (Kr)

• It produces characteristic lines in the yellow and green region of the spectrum, it is used at airport runways and approach light.

Xenon (Xe)

• Xe-Kr is used in high-intensity photographic flash tubes.

Radon (Re)

• Radon is a radioactive noble gas, which is used for the treatment of cancer.

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