What are the main group elements?

Main group elements are the elements in the s- and p-blocks of the periodic table. They include:

• Groups 1 and 2 (s-block): These are the alkali metals and alkaline earth metals.
• Groups 13 to 18 (p-block): These include elements like boron, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, fluorine, and noble gases.

Key points about main group elements:

1. They are also called representative elements.
2. Their chemical properties are more predictable because they have a clear number of valence electrons.
3. They include metals, nonmetals, and metalloids.
4. They form most of the common compounds we encounter in daily life.

In simple words, main group elements are the common elements of the periodic table whose behavior is mainly determined by their outermost electrons.