Chapter 7 - The p-Block Elements
1. Group 15 Elements (Nitrogen Family)
1. Elements: Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Arsenic (As), Antimony (Sb), Bismuth (Bi).
2. Electronic Configuration:
[Noble gas]ns2np3[ \text{Noble gas} ] ns^2 np^3[Noble gas]ns2np3
3. General Properties:
o Oxidation states: −3-3−3 to +5+5+5.
o Nitrogen shows extensive catenation due to its small size.
Important Compounds of Nitrogen:
1. Ammonia (NH3NH_3NH3):
o Preparation:
Haber’s Process: N2+3H2⇋2NH3 (ΔH=−46.1 kJ/mol)N_2 + 3H_2
\leftrightharpoons 2NH_3 \, (\Delta H = -46.1 \, \text{kJ/mol})N2+3H2
⇋2NH3(ΔH=−46.1kJ/mol)
o Properties: Weak base, forms ammonium salts.
2. Nitric Acid (HNO3HNO_3HNO3):
o Preparation: Ostwald’s Process.
o Highly corrosive, strong oxidizing agent.
2. Group 16 Elements (Oxygen Family)
1. Elements: Oxygen (O), Sulfur (S), Selenium (Se), Tellurium (Te), Polonium (Po).
2. Electronic Configuration:
[Noble gas]ns2np4[ \text{Noble gas} ] ns^2 np^4[Noble gas]ns2np4
3. General Properties:
o Oxidation states: −2-2−2, +2+2+2, +4+4+4, +6+6+6.
o Oxygen is a strong oxidizing agent.
Important Compounds of Sulfur:
1. Sulphur Dioxide (SO2SO_2SO2):
o Preparation: S+O2→SO2S + O_2 \rightarrow SO_2S+O2→SO2
o Properties: Reducing agent, used as a bleaching agent.
2. Sulphuric Acid (H2SO4H_2SO_4H2SO4):
o Contact Process: 2SO2+O2⇋2SO3 (V2O5 catalyst)2SO_2 + O_2
\leftrightharpoons 2SO_3 \, (V_2O_5 \, \text{catalyst})2SO2+O2⇋2SO3(V2
O5catalyst)
o Strong acid, dehydrating agent.
3. Group 17 Elements (Halogens)
1. Elements: Fluorine (F), Chlorine (Cl), Bromine (Br), Iodine (I), Astatine (At).
2. Electronic Configuration:
[Noble gas]ns2np5[ \text{Noble gas} ] ns^2 np^5[Noble gas]ns2np5
3. General Properties:
o Oxidation states: −1-1−1, +1+1+1, +3+3+3, +5+5+5, +7+7+7.
o Strong oxidizing agents.
Important Compounds:
1. Hydrochloric Acid (HClHClHCl):
o Preparation: NaCl+H2SO4→NaHSO4+HClNaCl + H_2SO_4 \rightarrow
NaHSO_4 + HClNaCl+H2SO4→NaHSO4+HCl
o Strong acid, used in industry and laboratories.
2. Interhalogen Compounds:
o General formula: ABxAB_xABx (e.g., ClF3,BrF5ClF_3, BrF_5ClF3,BrF5).
4. Group 18 Elements (Noble Gases)
1. Elements: Helium (He), Neon (Ne), Argon (Ar), Krypton (Kr), Xenon (Xe), Radon
(Rn).
2. Electronic Configuration:
[Noble gas]ns2np6[ \text{Noble gas} ] ns^2 np^6[Noble gas]ns2np6 (except Helium:
1s21s^21s2).
3. General Properties:
o Monoatomic, colorless, and odorless.
o Least reactive due to stable electronic configuration.
Important Compounds:
1. Xenon Fluorides (XeF2,XeF4,XeF6XeF_2, XeF_4, XeF_6XeF2,XeF4,XeF6):
o Preparation: Xe+F2→673K, 1 barXeF2Xe + F_2 \xrightarrow{\text{673K, 1
bar}} XeF_2Xe+F2673K, 1 barXeF2
o Used as fluorinating agents.
5. Anomalous Behavior of First Elements:
Nitrogen, oxygen, fluorine show anomalous behavior due to:
o Small size.
o High electronegativity.
o Absence of d-orbitals.
6. Trends in Properties of p-Block Elements:
1. Atomic Size: Increases down the group.
2. Ionization Enthalpy: Decreases down the group.
3. Electronegativity: Decreases down the group.
4. Reactivity: Decreases down the group in non-metals, increases for metals.