Periodic table block
p-block elements
The p-block spans groups 13 to 18, where the outermost electrons fill a p subshell. A p subshell holds up to six electrons, so the block is six groups wide, and it is the most varied region of the table: metals, all of the metalloids, the nonmetals, the halogens and the noble gases sit here.
At a glance
- Elements
- 36
- Atomic numbers
- 5 to 118
- Block
- p-block
- Periods
- 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
- Phase at STP
- solid (19), gas (9), liquid (1)
Shared properties
- Outermost electrons in a p subshell, which holds up to six electrons
- Spans groups 13 through 18 on the right of the table
- The only block containing metals, metalloids and nonmetals
- Home of most elements essential to life, including carbon, nitrogen and oxygen