p-block

The p-block gathers groups 13 to 18, where the np subshell is being filled. This block hosts the non-metals essential to life (C, N, O), the extremely electronegative halogens (F, Cl, Br, I) and the noble gases of the final column. The p-block also contains the metalloids whose properties oscillate between metallic and non-metallic (B, Si, Ge, As, Sb, Te), as well as post-transition metals such as aluminium and tin. No other block displays such diversity of chemical and physical behaviours.