The "s" block refers to the group of elements in the periodic table that have their outermost electrons located in the s orbital. These elements are typically found in the leftmost columns of the periodic table and include the alkali metals and alkaline earth metals.
There are a total of 18 elements in the "s" block, ranging from hydrogen (H) to radium (Ra). These elements are located in the first two rows of the periodic table.
"s" block elements are generally soft, reactive metals with low melting and boiling points. They are good conductors of electricity and have low ionization energies, making them easily lose their outermost electrons to form positive ions.
"s" block elements have a wide range of uses in various industries and technologies. For example, sodium (Na) and potassium (K) are used in food preservation, while calcium (Ca) is essential for strong bones and teeth. Lithium (Li) is used in rechargeable batteries and magnesium (Mg) is used in lightweight alloys for construction and transportation.
Since "s" block elements have similar electronic configurations, they exhibit similar chemical properties and trends in their reactivity and physical properties. This makes them important for understanding the periodic table and predicting the behavior of other elements. Additionally, many "s" block elements play crucial roles in biological processes and chemical reactions.