s & p Block Elements, Transition Elements

BLOCKS IN PERIODIC TABLE

Block Name Contents
s IA, IIA and He
p IIIA to VIIIA except He
d Transition elements (outer) 3d-series, 4d-series and 5d-series
f Actinides and Lanthanides 4f-series and 5f-series

• Definition: Elements in which the last electron enters in the s-orbital are called s-block
elements.
• It includes group IA (Alkali metals except Hydrogen) and group IIA (Alkaline Earth
Metals)
S. No Alkali Metals Alkaline Earth Metals
Lithium ( 3Li) Rubidium (11 Rb) Beryllium (4Be) Strontium (38Sr)
1 Sodium (11Na) Cesium (55Cs) Magnesium (12Mg) Barium (56Ba)
Potassium ( 19K) Francium ( 81 Fr) Calcium (20Ca) Radium (88Ra)
2 The ashes obtained from plants. Produce alkalies in water
3 Most electropositive elements. Electropositive elements
4 General electronic configuration = ns General electronic configuration = ns2
1

5 M → M+ + le- M → M+2 + 2e-

6 Oxidation state = +1 Oxidation state = +2
• Alkali metals:
Properties Li Na K Rb Cs
Atomic number 3 11 19 37 55
Electronic configurations 1s22s1 [Ne]3s1 [Ar]4s1 [Kr]5s1 [Xe]6s1
Ionization energy (kJ/mol) 520 496 419 403 376
Electron affinity (kJ/mol) 60 53 48 47 46
Electronegativity 1.0 0.9 0.8 0.8 0.7
Atomic radius 152 186 227 248 265
• Alkaline earth metals:
Properties Be Mg Ca Sr Ba
Atomic number 4 12 20 38 56
Electronic configurations 1s22s2 [Ne]3s2 [Ar]4s2 [Kr]5s2 [Xe]6s2
Ionization energy (kJ/mol) 899 738 590 549 503
Electron affinity (kJ/mol) 240 230 156 168 52
Electronegativity 1.5 1.2 1.0 1.0 0.9
Atomic radius 112 197 215 222 198
NMDCAT SUPPLEMENT 1
 s & p Block Elements, Transition Elements
NOTE: Melting point of magnesium is lowest in its group
REACTIONS OF GROUP I (ALKALI METALS) ELEMENTS
Alkali Metals Alkaline Metals
Valency Low I.P and forms +1 Low I.P and form +2 ion
2nd I.P. 2nd I.P is very high 2nd I.P is comparatively low
Normal, superoxide and peroxides Normal and peroxides are produced e.g.
are formed e.g. 2Be + O2 → 2BeO(Normal Oxide)
4Li + O2 → 2Li2O 2Mg + O2 → 2MgO(Normal Oxide)
Reaction 500 − 600 C
with oxygen
(Normal Oxide) Ba + O2 ⎯⎯⎯⎯ → BaO2(Per
2Na + O2 → Na2O2 oxide)
(Sodium peroxide)
K + O2 → KO2 (Super oxide)
Reaction
Only Li give nitride directly (Li3N) All elements give nitride directly(M3N2)
with nitrogen
React with water give M(OH)2 except Be
Reaction (Mg gives MgO)
Reacts with water give MOH + H2
with Water 100 C
Mg + H 2 O ⎯⎯⎯ → MgO + H 2
Reaction
Reacts with halogen to give MX React with halogen to give MX2
with Halogen
Note:
• Basicity of oxides increases down the group and decreases along period
• Reaction of alkali metal oxide with water is acid-base and not oxidation-reduction
reaction.
O-2 + H2O → 2OH-

REACTION OF PERIOD 3 ELEMENTS WITH WATER, OXYGEN AND CHLORINE

Elements Reaction with water Reaction with oxygen Reaction with chlorine
2Na + 2H 2 O ⎯⎯→ 2NaOH + H 2 4Na + O 2 ⎯⎯→ 2Na 2 O 2Na + Cl2 ⎯⎯ → 2NaCl
Very exothermic; colourless 2Na + O 2 ⎯⎯ → Na 2 O 2 Bright orange flame to
Na NaOH solution Orange flame to produce produce white solid NaCl
white solid mixture of
Na2O and Na2O2
→ Mg ( OH )2 + H 2
Mg + 2H 2 O ⎯⎯ 2Mg + O 2 ⎯⎯ → 2MgO Mg + Cl2 ⎯⎯ → MgCl2
Mg Mg + H 2 O ⎯⎯ → MgO + H 2 Intense white flame to Intense white flame to
give white solid MgO give white powder of
Mg(OH) in cold and MgO in hot
MgCl2
condition
2Al + 3H 2 O ⎯⎯ → Al2O3 + 3H 2 No Reaction 2Al + 3Cl2 ⎯⎯ → 2AlCl3
Al Oxide protective layer slows the Burns in chlorine to
reaction produce pale yellow
AlCl3

NMDCAT SUPPLEMENT 2
s & p Block Elements, Transition Elements
No Reaction Si + O 2 ⎯⎯ → SiO 2 Si + 2Cl2 ⎯⎯ → SiCl4
Si Endothermic when strongly Colourless liquid SiCl4 is
heated white powder of formed
SiO2 is formed
No reaction P4 + 3O 2 ⎯⎯→ P4 O6 P4 + 6Cl2 ⎯⎯ → 4PCl3
P4 + 5O 2 ⎯⎯ → P4 O10 P4 + 10Cl2 ⎯⎯ → 4PCl5
P White P catches fire to Burns in chlorine to
produce mixture of P4O6 produce mixture of PCl3
and P4O10 and PCl5
No reaction S + O 2 ⎯⎯ → SO 2 2S + Cl2 ⎯⎯ → S2 Cl2
S Burn on gentle heating Orange, foul smelling
with pale blue flame to liquid S2Cl2 is formed
produce colorless SO2
Cl2 + H 2 O ‡ˆ ˆ †ˆ HCl + HOCl Despite having several No sense to talk about
oxides but don’t react chlorine reacting with
2Cl2 + 2 H 2O ⎯⎯⎯→ Sunlight
4 HCl + O2 directly itself
Cl
Reversible reaction produces
mixture of HCl and HOCl along
with oxygen gas
Ar No reaction No reaction No reaction

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF TRANSITION ELEMENTS

BINDING ENERGIES
• They are tough, malleable and ductile. The toughness of these
metals indicates strong metallic binding. It increases upto Cr
then decrease.
Reason: It depends the number of unpaired electrons. The s-
electron of outermost shell takes part in chemical bonding. Along
with that, the electrons of underlying half-filled d-orbitals also
participate in bonding.

OXIDATION STATE
• Elements shows variable oxidation state +2,+3……+7
• It is due to the involvement of unpaired electrons of d with s atomic orbital in bond formation.
• Sc to Mn oxidation states increases and after that it decreases because electrons get paired up.
Electronic Oxidation state
Elements
configuration
Sc [Ar] 3d1 4s2 2 3
Ti [Ar] 3d2 4s2 2 3 4
V [Ar] 3d3 4s2 2 3 4 5
Cr [Ar] 3d5 4s1 2 3 4 5 6
Mn [Ar] 3d5 4s2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Fe [Ar] 3d6 4s2 1 2 3 4 5 6
Co [Ar] 3d7 4s2 2 3 4 5
Ni [Ar] 3d8 4s2 2 3 4
Cu [Ar] 3d10 4s1 1 2 3
Zn [Ar] 3d10 4s2 2

NMDCAT SUPPLEMENT 3
s & p Block Elements, Transition Elements
CATALYTIC PROPERTIES
• Transition elements have variable oxidation state and hence are capable of forming
intermediate compounds which helps in the formation of desired products.
Examples:
• Mixture of ZnO and Cr2O3 is used for the manufacturing of CH3OH
• Finely divided iron is catalyst and 1% Na2O and 1% SiO2 are promoter in synthesis of
ammonia in Haber process.
• V2O5 is used as catalyst in conversion of SO2 to SO3 during the manufacture of H2SO4 in
contact process.
• TiCl4 is used as catalyst in manufacturing of plastic.
• Ni, Pd and Pt are used as catalyst in hydrogenation of unsaturated hydrocarbons.
• MnO2 can be used as catalyst for decomposition of H2O2.
MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
• The substances which contain unpaired electrons are weakly attracted by applied magnetic
field are called paramagnetic substances. e.g. Ti, V etc.
• The substances which contain paired electrons are weakly repelled by applied magnetic field
are called diamagnetic substances. eg. Zn
• Pair of electrons cancel each other’s opposite magnetic field due to
their opposite spin.
• The substances with strong paramagnetism are called
ferromagnetic substances and phenomenon is called
ferromagnetism.eg. Fe
• Magnetic moment and number of un-paired electron are related
as
 = n ( n + 2)
ALLOY FORMATION
• Owing to the similarity in their sizes, some transition elements form metallic lattice.
• In alloy sheets, Fe is replaced by Cr, Mn, Ni
• Examples include brass, bronze coinage alloy metal etc.
Alloy Composition Properties and Uses
Brass Cu = 60 – 80% • It is a strong alloy of copper which is soft and
Zn = 20 – 40% flexible. Due to low M-P, it is easy to use It
does not corrode.
• It is used to make locks, keys, water taps,
pipes, artificial jewelry, door handles and
parts of machines
Bronze Cu = 90 – 95 % • It is strong, brilliant and long lasting. It does
Sn = 05 – 10 % not corrode.

NMDCAT SUPPLEMENT 4
s & p Block Elements, Transition Elements

• It is used to prepare medals, coins, badges and

bullets, decorative articles, etc.
Nichrome Ni = 60% • It is used in electric heaters and filaments of
Cr = 15% furnaces.
Fe = 25%

Properties of alloys
Alloys are
►comparatively cheap. ►Strong and flexible but hard alloys can also be prepared.
►Not corroded. ►Durable. ►Having high melting points.
► Best conductor but non conductor alloy can be prepare.
INTERSTITIAL COMPOUNDS:
When small non-metal atoms like H, B, C, N enter the interstices of transition metals and
impart useful features to them, they are called Interstitial compounds.
►These are non-stoichiometric compounds.
►Sometime they are also termed as interstitial alloys.
COLOUR
When white light is allowed to fall on a complex. The following things may occur
(i) The complex may absorb the whole of white
light. In this case complex appears black.
(ii) The complex may reflect or transmit the The colour of the transition metal ions is
whole light. In this case it appears white. due the presence of unpaired electrons or
(iii) The complex may absorb some of it and incomplete d-orbitals. Due to d-d
may reflect or transmit the remaining light. transition.
Mechanism:
o When light is allowed to fall on a substance, it absorbs from it the light of a particular
colour whose wavelength is in the visible region (4000-7000Å) and reflects the remaining
light which has the colour complementary to that of the absorbed light.
o Complementary colour which is actually the colour of reflected light becomes the colour
of the substance.
o Every ion absorbs a different wavelength and transmits the remaining set of wavelengths that
gives different colours to the ions.

Absorption of yellow light by [Ti(H2O)6]3+ ion.

In [Ti(H2O)6]3+ , yellow light is absorbed, while most of the blue and red lights are
transmitted, therefore the solution of [Ti(H2O)6]3+ ions look violet in colour..

NMDCAT SUPPLEMENT 5