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Course by: Andrew R. Barron. E-mail the author

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Name: Chemistry of the Main Group Elements
ID: col11124
Language: English (en)
Summary: The main group (s- and p-block) elements are among the most diverse in the Periodic Table. Ranging from non-metallic gases (e.g., hydrogen and fluorine), through semi-metals (e.g., metalloids such as silicon) to highly reactive metals (e.g., sodium and potassium). The study of the main group elements is important for a number of reasons. On an academic level they exemplify the trends and predictions in structure and reactivity that are the key to the Periodic Table. The main group elements represent the most prevalent elements in the Earth’s crust, as well as most of the key elements of life, and have enormous industrial, economic, and environmental importance. In this regard an understanding of the chemistry of the main group elements is vital for students within science, engineering, and medicine; however, it is hoped that those who make political and economic decisions would make better ones if they had a fraction of the knowledge of the world around them. In addition to the basic synthesis, structure, properties, and reactivity of the elements and their compounds, sections describing some industrial use, as well as historical or social perspective have been added. These sections were as a result of attempts within class to put the chemistry into a context outside of the classroom. It is important that the discovery and use of elements be understood to be a human endeavor rather than a series of abstract concepts or facts. It is only by an appreciation of the past that we can advance the future.
Collection Subtype: Course
Subject: Science and Technology
Keywords: alkali metal, alkaline earth, ammonia, carbon dioxide, chalcogen, chemistry, complex, compound, gas, global warming, Group 1, Group 12, Group 13, Group 14, Group 15, Group 16, Group 17, Group 18, Group 2, halide, halogen, hydride, hydrogen, inorganic, liquid, main group, nitrogen, oxygen, pnictogen, solid, solvation, solvent, structure, water
License: Creative Commons Attribution License CC-BY 3.0
Authors: Andrew R. Barron (arb@rice.edu)
Copyright Holders: Andrew R. Barron (arb@rice.edu)
Maintainers: Andrew R. Barron (arb@rice.edu)
Latest version: 1.25 (history)
First publication date: Aug 19, 2009 1:24 pm GMT-5
Last revision to collection: Aug 20, 2010 4:14 pm GMT-5

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Version History

Version: 1.25 Aug 20, 2010 4:14 pm GMT-5 by Andrew R. Barron
Changes: 
add boron hydride section
Version: 1.24 Aug 19, 2010 4:29 pm GMT-5 by Andrew R. Barron
Changes: 
Add Group 13 halide content
Version: 1.23 Aug 15, 2010 4:53 pm GMT-5 by Andrew R. Barron
Changes: 
add nitrogen chemistry
Version: 1.22 Aug 10, 2010 11:04 am GMT-5 by Andrew R. Barron
Changes: 
add content: oxides and oxo acids of N and P
Version: 1.21 Jul 21, 2010 1:46 pm GMT-5 by Andrew R. Barron
Changes: 
added content
Version: 1.20 Jul 20, 2010 9:49 am GMT-5 by Andrew R. Barron
Changes: 
add content
Version: 1.19 May 25, 2010 4:40 pm GMT-5 by Andrew R. Barron
Changes: 
add content - sterochemistry
Version: 1.18 Feb 11, 2010 4:15 pm US/Central by Andrew R. Barron
Changes: 
Add content
Version: 1.17 Feb 10, 2010 5:37 pm US/Central by Andrew R. Barron
Changes: 
add content
Version: 1.16 Dec 14, 2009 6:51 pm US/Central by Andrew R. Barron
Changes: 
add content - ozone
Version: 1.15 Dec 14, 2009 3:59 pm US/Central by Andrew R. Barron
Changes: 
add content
combustion
change heading titles
Version: 1.14 Dec 12, 2009 4:21 pm US/Central by Andrew R. Barron
Changes: 
add content, incl: preface, CN compounds, and solvent
Version: 1.13 Dec 9, 2009 5:25 pm US/Central by Andrew R. Barron
Changes: 
Add content 
ammonia
BrF3
Version: 1.12 Dec 7, 2009 4:56 pm US/Central by Andrew R. Barron
Changes: 
Add content: CdSe nano, Group 12 elements
Version: 1.11 Dec 1, 2009 5:10 pm US/Central by Andrew R. Barron
Changes: 
add content
Group 13 chalcogenides
Version: 1.10 Nov 25, 2009 5:33 pm US/Central by Andrew R. Barron
Changes: 
add content - ammonia and hydrides
Version: 1.9 Nov 23, 2009 6:08 pm US/Central by Andrew R. Barron
Changes: 
Add content - carbon halides
Version: 1.8 Nov 19, 2009 4:45 pm US/Central by Andrew R. Barron
Changes: 
added content - BN, CO2, suboxide, Wade's rules
Version: 1.7 Nov 16, 2009 12:20 pm US/Central by Andrew R. Barron
Changes: 
add content
Version: 1.6 Oct 15, 2009 9:29 pm GMT-5 by Andrew R. Barron
Changes: 
add mercury content
Version: 1.5 Oct 15, 2009 5:56 pm GMT-5 by Andrew R. Barron
Changes: 
add content
Version: 1.4 Oct 14, 2009 6:04 pm GMT-5 by Andrew R. Barron
Changes: 
Add content - Grignards
Version: 1.3 Oct 13, 2009 7:33 pm GMT-5 by Andrew R. Barron
Changes: 
add content
Version: 1.2 Oct 6, 2009 8:13 pm GMT-5 by Andrew R. Barron
Changes: 
Add module
Version: 1.1 Sep 29, 2009 1:28 pm GMT-5 by Andrew R. Barron
Changes: 
1st version

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Barron A. Chemistry of the Main Group Elements [Connexions Web site]. August 20, 2010. Available at: http://cnx.org/content/col11124/1.25/.

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Barron, A. (2010, August 20). Chemistry of the Main Group Elements. Retrieved from the Connexions Web site: http://cnx.org/content/col11124/1.25/

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Barron, Andrew. "Chemistry of the Main Group Elements." Connexions. August 20, 2010. http://cnx.org/content/col11124/1.25/.

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Andrew Barron, "Chemistry of the Main Group Elements," Connexions, August 20, 2010, http://cnx.org/content/col11124/1.25/.

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Barron, A. 2010. Chemistry of the Main Group Elements. Connexions, August 20, 2010. http://cnx.org/content/col11124/1.25/.

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Barron, Andrew. Chemistry of the Main Group Elements. Connexions. 20 Aug. 2010 <http://cnx.org/content/col11124/1.25/>.