Question

Write the general outer configuration of $s - ,p - ,d - ,f -$ block elements.

Answer 1

Electronic configuration is defined as the distribution of the electrons in the atomic orbitals of an element. This also has an application in the molecules and there is a distribution of electrons in the molecular orbitals of the molecules of a compound.

Complete step by step answer:
The general electronic configuration of the various elements is based on the distribution of the electrons in the atomic orbitals of the atom and in which orbital does the last electron enter. In the periodic table, we have 18 groups and 7 periods in which the elements are distributed as per their electronic configuration as well as physical and chemical properties. The elements show some common behavior along a group as they have the same outer electronic configuration down the group. In the modern periodic table, there are four different blocks of elements. The general electronic configuration of the various block elements can be explained as:
$s - block = (n - 2){f^0}(n - 1){d^0}n{s^{1 - 2}}$
$p - block = n{s^2}n{p^{1 - 6}}$
$d - block = (n - 1){d^{1 - 10}}n{s^{1 - 2}}$
$f - block = (n - 2){f^{1 - 14}}(n - 1){d^{0 - 1}}n{s^2}$

Note: In s- block elements, the last electron enters the s- subshell of the atom of the element. There are two groups of elements present in the s- block. One is the alkali metal group where the outermost subshell has a total of one electron in it and the other is the alkaline earth metal group where the outermost subshell has a total of two electrons in it. Similarly, the p- block has six groups, d- block has 10 groups and the f- block has fourteen different groups based on their outermost electronic configuration.