Main-group element

The periodic table of the chemical elements. The columns represent the groups. Groups 1, 2 and 13 to 18 constitute the main group. Sometimes group 12 is also included in the main group.

In chemistry and atomic physics, the main group is the group of elements whose lightest members are represented by helium, lithium, beryllium, boron, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and fluorine as arranged in the periodic table of the elements. The main group includes the 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 in the main group.^[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 Earth, in the Solar System, and in the Universe. They are sometimes also called the representative elements.

References

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

Bibliography

Ralf Steudel, "Chemie der Nichtmetalle" (Chemistry of the nonmetals), 2nd Edition. Walter deGruyter, Berlin 1998. ISBN 3-11-012322-3

Periodic table

Periodic
table
forms

Standard	18-column large cells 32-column (large cells)

Extended	Extension beyond the 7th period Fricke model large cells Pyykkö model

Alternative	Alternatives Chemical Galaxy Janet's left step table

Named
sets of
elements

By
periodic
table
structure

Groups	1 (Alkali metals) 2 (Alkaline earth metals) 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 (Pnictogens) 16 (Chalcogens) 17 (Halogens) 18 (Noble gases)

Periods	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Beyond

Blocks	s-block p-block d-block f-block g-block Aufbau principle

By
metallicity

Metals	Alkali metals Alkaline earth metals Lanthanides Actinides Superactinides Eka-superactinides Transition metals Post-transition metals

Metalloids	Lists of metalloids by source Dividing line

Nonmetals	Polyatomic nonmetals Diatomic nonmetals Noble gases

Other
sets

Elements

Lists	By: Abundance (in humans) Atomic properties Nuclear stability Production Symbol

Properties	Atomic weight Crystal structure Electron affinity Electron configuration Electronegativity Allen Pauling Goldschmidt classification Maximum valence

Data pages	Abundance Atomic radius Boiling point Critical point Density Elasticity Electrical resistivity Electron affinity Electron configuration Electronegativity Hardness Heat capacity Heat of fusion Heat of vaporization Ionization energy Melting point Oxidation state Speed of sound Thermal conductivity Thermal expansion coefficient Vapor pressure

History