Main group element

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The periodic table of the chemical elements. The columns represent the groups. Groups 1, 2 and 13 to 18 are the "main group elements". Sometimes group 12 is also included in the "main group elements".

In chemistry and atomic physics, main group elements are elements in groups (periodic columns) whose lightest members are represented by helium, lithium, beryllium, boron, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and fluorine as arranged in the periodic table of the elements. Main group elements include elements (except hydrogen) in groups 1 and 2 (s-block), and groups 13 to 18 (p-block). Group 12 elements are usually considered to be transition metals; however, zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg) share some properties of both groups, and some scientists believe they should be included as main group elements.[1][2]

In older nomenclature the main group elements are groups IA and IIA, and groups IIIB to 0 (CAS groups IIIA to VIIIA). Group 12 is labelled as group IIB in both systems.

Main group elements (with some of the lighter transition metals) are the most abundant elements on the earth, in the solar system, and in the universe. They are sometimes called the representative elements.


References

  1. ↑ "Nomenclature of Inorganic Chemistry". International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry. Retrieved 27 September 2011. 
  2. ↑ Jensen, William B. (2003). "The Place of Zinc, Cadmium, and Mercury in the Periodic Table". Journal of Chemical Education 80 (8): 952–561. Bibcode:2003JChEd..80..952J. doi:10.1021/ed080p952. 

See also

  • Ralf Steudel "Chemie der Nichtmetalle" (Chemistry of the Nonmetals) 2nd Edition. Walter deGruyter, Berlin 1998. ISBN 3-11-012322-3
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.