Table of Contents
P-block-elements
The P-Block Elements: The p-block elements are elements in the periodic table that are located in the p-block. This block contains six elements: helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, and radon. These elements are located in Group 18 of the periodic table.
Group 13 Elements: The Boron Family
- The Boron Family includes the elements Boron (B), Aluminum (Al), Gallium (Ga), Indium (In), Tin (Sn), and Thallium (Tl). Boron is a nonmetal, while the other elements in the group are metals.
- The elements in the Boron Family are all shiny, silvery metals. They are all good conductors of electricity and heat. They are also all quite reactive, meaning they easily form compounds with other elements.
Important Trends and Anomalous properties of Boron Important Trends
- Boron is a metalloid that is found in Group IIIB of the periodic table.
- Boron has a relatively low melting point and boils point, making it a good candidate for use in alloys.
- Boron is a good conductor of electricity and heat.
- Boron is resistant to corrosion and is therefore used in a variety of industrial applications.
- Boron has a low density and is therefore used in lightweight applications.
- Boron is a strong material and has a high tensile strength.
- Boron is a good neutron absorber and is therefore used in the nuclear industry.
- Boron is used in a variety of medical applications.
Anomalous Properties
- Boron can exist in two different allotropes, alpha and beta.
- Boron has a high thermal conductivity.
- Boron is a good moderator of neutrons.
- Boron is a good absorber of gamma radiation.
Some Important Compounds of Boron
The most important compounds of boron are borax, boric acid, and boron nitride. Borax is a mineral composed of sodium borate and water. It is used as a flux in metalworking and as a cleaner and descaler in the manufacture of textiles, glass, and other products. Boric acid is a weak acid found in plants and in the body. It is used as a mild antiseptic and as an insecticide. Boron nitride is a white, odorless, nontoxic powder that is used as a lubricant and a filler in plastics and other materials.
Uses of Boron and Aluminium and their Compounds
- Boron is used in the production of borosilicate glass, a type of glass with low thermal expansion, making it resistant to breaking under temperature changes.
- Aluminium is used in the production of cans and foils for food and beverage packaging, as well as in the production of aircraft and automotive parts.
Group 14 Elements: The Carbon Family
- The carbon family is a group of 14 elements in the periodic table. The carbon family includes carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, fluorine, and neon. These elements are all found in the s-block of the periodic table.
- The carbon family is important because it includes some of the most common elements in the world. Carbon is the building block of all life, and nitrogen is an essential nutrient for plants. Oxygen is necessary for human respiration, and fluorine is used in toothpaste and water fluoridation. Neon is used in advertising and signs.
- The carbon family is also important because it is responsible for many of the chemical reactions that occur in the world. Carbon is the basis of organic chemistry, and nitrogen is the basis of inorganic chemistry. These elements are responsible for the formation of all of the molecules in the world.
Important Trends and Anomalous Behavior of Carbon
- The atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) has been increasing at an alarming rate since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. The Keeling Curve, a graph of atmospheric CO 2 levels measured at the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii, is the longest continuous record of atmospheric CO 2 levels in the world. The Keeling Curve shows that the concentration of atmospheric CO 2 has increased from 315 parts per million (ppm) in 1958 to 405 ppm in 2013.
- The Keeling Curve also shows that the concentration of atmospheric CO 2 varies over time. The concentration of atmospheric CO 2 reaches its highest level in the summer and its lowest level in the winter. This variation is caused by the photosynthesis and respiration of plants. In the summer, the concentration of atmospheric CO 2 decreases because plants photosynthesis more CO 2 than they respire. In the winter, the concentration of atmospheric CO 2 increases because plants respire more CO 2 than they photosynthesis.
- The Keeling Curve also shows that the concentration of atmospheric CO 2 has been increasing at an alarming rate since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution.
Allotropes of Carbon
- Allotropes are different physical forms of the same element. The element carbon has three allotropes: diamond, graphite, and Buckminsterfullerene (C60).
- The three allotropes of carbon have different physical properties. Diamond is the hardest substance known to man and has a high melting point. It is used in jewelry and drill bits. Graphite is a soft, black mineral that is used in pencils and in the manufacturing of steel. C60 is a molecule made up of 60 carbon atoms that has unique physical properties, such as being able to form tubes and spheres.
Uses of Carbon
- Carbon is a very versatile element that has a large number of uses. Some of the most common uses of carbon are in the form of carbon dioxide, carbon black, and carbon fiber.
- Carbon dioxide is used in a number of industrial processes, including the production of soda ash, glass, and cement. It is also used in the food industry to produce carbonated beverages and in the agricultural industry to produce fertilizers.
- Carbon black is used as a pigment in paints and plastics and as an additive in rubber products.
- Carbon fiber is used in the aerospace, automotive, and construction industries. It is also used in the manufacture of high-end sporting goods.
