Question

Write the general outer electronic configuration of s, p, d and f block elements.

Answer 1

Hint: The periodic table is divided into different blocks depending upon the name of the orbitals which receive the last electron. These blocks are: s, p, d, and f blocks.

Complete step by step solution:
Let us start to look at the division of the elements of the periodic table and their electronic configuration one by one.
s-block elements: These are the elements in which the last electron enters the s-orbital of their respective outermost shells. s orbital has only one subshell and can accommodate only 2 electrons. Group 1 and group 2 elements comprises the s-block elements. The general configuration of s-block elements is $n{s}^{(1-2)}$.

p-block elements: These are the elements in which the last electron enters any one of the 3 p-orbital of their respective outermost shells. p orbitals have 3 p-subshells and each can accommodate 2 electrons. Group 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17 elements comprise the p-block elements. The general configuration of p-block elements is $n{s}^{2}n{p}^{(1-6)}$.

d-block elements: These are the elements in which the last electron enters any one of the 5 d-orbital of their respective outermost shells. d orbitals have 5 d-subshells and each can accommodate 2 electrons. The elements in this block generally have 1 or 2 electrons in the s-orbital of the outermost shell while the electrons are being filled in the d-orbital of the penultimate shell. Group 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 elements comprises the d-block elements. The general configuration of d-block elements is $(n-1)d^{(1-10)}n{s}^{(0-2)}$.

f-block elements: These are the elements in which the last electron enters any one of the 7 f-orbital of their respective outermost shells. f orbitals have 7 f-subshells and each can accommodate 2 electrons. In the elements, the s-orbital in the last shell is completely filled, the d-orbital of the penultimate shell contains 0 or one electron but the f-orbital of the ante-penultimate shell gets progressively filled. It comprises two series, each of them having 14 elements. The first series is called the lanthanides or lanthanide (from cerium to lutetium) and the second series is called the actinides or actinoids (from thorium to lawrencium). The general configuration of f-block elements is $(n-2)f^{(0-14)}(n-1)d^{(0-1)}n{s}^2$.

Note: For s-block elements, n=1 to 7.
For p-block elements, n =2 to 7.
For d-block elements, n =4 to 7.
For f-block elements, n =6 to 7.