Question

Why are the "s-" and "p-" blocks elements called representative elements?

Short answer

Answer: The 's-' and 'p-' block elements are known as representative elements because they showcase a wide range of physical and chemical properties that represent the general trends and patterns observed in the periodic table. Their periodic properties are easily predictable and show strong correlations within their groups, making them ideal representatives of periodic trends such as ionization energy, electronegativity, atomic size, and electron affinity.

Step-by-step solution

Understanding 's-' and 'p-' block elements

In the periodic table, elements are arranged according to their electron configurations. The 's-' and 'p-' block elements refer to the elements present in the s and p orbitals. The 's-' block includes Groups 1 and 2, while the 'p-' block includes Groups 13 to 18.

Characteristics of 's-' and 'p-' block elements

's-' block elements are characterized by the filling of their s orbitals. They have one or two valence electrons in their outermost s orbital. 'p-' block elements, on the other hand, are characterized by the filling of their p orbitals. They have three to eight valence electrons in their outermost p orbital.

Why are they called representative elements?

The reason behind calling these elements 'representative elements' is that they showcase a wide range of physical and chemical properties that represent the general trends and patterns observed in the periodic table. The elements in the 's-' and 'p-' blocks exhibit periodic properties that are easily predictable and have strong correlations within their respective groups. This behavior makes them ideal representatives of the periodic table trends such as ionization energy, electronegativity, atomic size, and electron affinity.

Examples of representative elements

Some examples of representative elements include alkali metals (Group 1), alkaline earth metals (Group 2), halogens (Group 17), and noble gases (Group 18). Each group has unique properties that represent the trends in the periodic table. Their properties reflect the number of valence electrons and can be easily predicted, making them an exceptional representation of the characteristics of elements in the periodic table. In summary, the 's-' and 'p-' block elements are called representative elements because they showcase the general trends and patterns found in the periodic table. Their properties stand as ideal representatives of the periodic properties as they are predictable and exhibit strong similarities within their respective groups.