P-Block Elements Short Notes (Groups 15–18)
Group 15 (N, P, As, Sb, Bi) – Nitrogen Family
- Config: ns²np³
- Occurrence: N■ (78% air), P (minerals, Ca■(PO■)■), As/Sb (sulphides), Bi (oxide/sulphide).
- Atomic size: ↑ down group.
- Ionization enthalpy: ↓ down group.
- Electronegativity: N > P > As > Sb > Bi.
- Oxidation states: -3, +3, +5. Stability: +5 ↓ down group, +3 ↑ (inert pair effect).
- Catenation: Strong in N, weak down the group.
Key Compounds:
- NH■: Trigonal pyramidal, sp³ hybridized, H-bonding, basic. Reacts with acids → NH■■ salts.
- HNO■: Strong acid, oxidizing agent. Planar, H-bonded.
- NCl■: Explosive, pyramidal.
- Oxides of N: N■O (anesthetic), NO (neutral), NO■ (brown, acidic), N■O■ (acidic).
Phosphorus:
- Allotropes: White P (poisonous, reactive), Red P (stable, matchsticks).
- Phosphine (PH■): poisonous, rotten-fish smell, weak base.
- Halides: PCl■ (→ H■PO■), PCl■ (→ POCl■ + HCl).
- Oxoacids: H■PO■ (reducing), H■PO■, H■PO■ (tribasic, fertilizer).
Group 16 (O, S, Se, Te, Po) – Oxygen Family
- Config: ns²np■
- Occurrence: O■ (air, oxides, water), S (sulphides, sulphates).
- Atomic size: ↑ down group.
- Ionization enthalpy: ↓ down group.
- Electronegativity: O > S > Se > Te > Po.
- Oxidation states: -2, +2, +4, +6. (-2 stability ↓ down group).
Oxygen:
- Oxides: acidic (CO■), basic (CaO), amphoteric (ZnO), neutral (CO, NO).
- Ozone: bent, strong oxidizer, decomposes on heating/catalyst.
Sulphur:
- Allotropes: Rhombic S (stable <369K), Monoclinic S (stable >369K).
- Oxides: SO■ (reducing, acidic), SO■ (oxidizing, acidic → H■SO■).
- Oxoacids: H■SO■ (reducing), H■SO■ (strong acid, oxidizing).
- Peracids: H■SO■ (peroxomonosulphuric acid).
Group 17 (F, Cl, Br, I, At) – Halogens
- Config: ns²np■
- Occurrence: F (CaF■), Cl (NaCl), Br (sea water), I (kelp).
- Trends: Size ↑, EN ↓, MP/BP ↑, Oxidizing power ↓ down group (F strongest).
- Oxidation states: -1, +1, +3, +5, +7. Positive states ↓ stability down group.
Compounds:
- Oxides: Cl■O (explosive), I■O■ (oxidizer).
- Oxoacids: HOCl < HClO■ < HClO■ < HClO■ (strength ↑ with oxidation state).
- Interhalogens: XY■ (n=1,3,5,7) → ClF■ (T-shape), IF■ (pentagonal bipyramidal).
- Pseudohalogens: CN■, SCN■.
- Polyhalides: [ICl■]■, [I■]■.
Group 18 (He, Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe, Rn) – Noble Gases
- Config: ns²np■ (He: 1s²).
- Occurrence: in air, He (natural gas), Rn (radium decay).
- Properties: Monoatomic, inert, low BP, colorless.
- Uses: He (cryogenics, balloons), Ne (signs), Ar (welding), Kr/Xe (lighting).
Xenon Compounds:
- XeF■: linear.
- XeF■: square planar.
- XeF■: distorted octahedral.
- XeO■, XeO■, XeO■: strong oxidizers.
- XeOF■: T-shaped.
Mnemonics:
- Group 15: N P As Sb Bi → “Nice People Always Study Books.”
- Group 16: O S Se Te Po → “Our Small Sister Tells Poems.”
- Group 17: F Cl Br I At → “First Class Boys In America.”
- Group 18: He Ne Ar Kr Xe Rn → “He Never Arrives; Kindly eXcuse, Run.”
