Ask a Teacher

The p-block of the periodic table of the elements consists of the last six groups except helium (which is located in the s-block). In the elemental form of the p-block elements, the highest energy electron occupies a p-orbital. The p-block contains all of the nonmetals (except for hydrogen and helium, which are in the s-block) and semimetals, as well as the post-transition metals.

The groups of the p-block are:

    13 (IIIB, IIIA): Boron group

    14 (IVB, IVA): Carbon group

    15 (VB, VA): Nitrogen group (or pnictogens)

    16 (VIB, VIA): Chalcogens

    17 (VIIB, VIIA): Halogens

    18 (Group 0): Noble gases (excluding helium )