Periodic table block: Information and Much More from Answers.com

A block of the periodic table of elements is a set of adjacent groups. The respective highest-energy electrons in each element in a block belong to the same atomic orbital type. Each block is named after its characteristic orbital; thus, the blocks are:

• s-block
• p-block
• d-block
• f-block
• g-block (no elements belonging to the g-block have been observed)

The block names (s, p, d, f, g, h,...) are derived from the quality of the spectroscopic lines of the associated atomic orbitals: sharp, principal, diffuse and fundamental, the rest being named in alphabetical order.

Periodic tables
Layouts	Standard · Vertical · Full names · Names and atomic masses · Text for last · Huge table · Metals and nonmetals · Blocks · Valences · Inline f-block · 218 elements · Electron configurations · Atomic masses · Electronegativities · Alternatives
Lists of elements	Name · Atomic symbol · Atomic number · Boiling point · Melting point · Density · Atomic mass
Groups	1 ·  2 ·  3 ·  4 ·  5 ·  6 ·  7 ·  8 ·  9 ·  10 ·  11 ·  12 ·  13 ·  14 ·  15 ·  16 ·  17 ·  18
Periods:	1 ·  2 ·  3 ·  4 ·  5 ·  6 ·  7 ·  8
Series	Alkalis ·  Alkaline earths ·  Lanthanides ·  Actinides ·  Transition metals · Poor metals ·  Metalloids ·  Nonmetals ·  Halogens ·  Noble gases
Blocks	s-block ·  p-block ·  d-block ·  f-block ·  g-block