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Are H or He in the s block?

In a recent exam question, it asked for the element in the s block with this highest ionisation energy. The answer was Be. The periodic table provided by aqa doesn't show he and h directly in the column of the s block, but both of their highest energy electrons are in the s sub level.

Reply 1

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Block_(periodic_table)
According to this, they are. "The s-block is on the left side of the periodic table and includes elements from the first two columns, the alkali metals (group 1) and alkaline earth metals (group 2), plus hydrogen and helium. "
Can you post the question?

Reply 2

"Identify the element in the s block of the period table that has the highest first ionisation energy". I was thinking that the periodic table given by aqa shows he and h not in the actual left hand side block. Like it shows he in the noble gases and h in the middle? surely otherwise the answer would be hydrogen?
Original post by BobbJo
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Block_(periodic_table)
According to this, they are. "The s-block is on the left side of the periodic table and includes elements from the first two columns, the alkali metals (group 1) and alkaline earth metals (group 2), plus hydrogen and helium. "
Can you post the question?

Reply 3

Original post by Bertybassett
"Identify the element in the s block of the period table that has the highest first ionisation energy". I was thinking that the periodic table given by aqa shows he and h not in the actual left hand side block. Like it shows he in the noble gases and h in the middle? surely otherwise the answer would be hydrogen?

According to the link in post 2, He and H are s-block elements so the answer would be He. Can you link the paper?

Reply 4

no it was last years aqa paper 1 ive only got the paper copy but that's what the answer and question was.
Original post by BobbJo
According to the link in post 2, He and H are s-block elements so the answer would be He. Can you link the paper?

Reply 5

Original post by Bertybassett
no it was last years aqa paper 1 ive only got the paper copy but that's what the answer and question was.


If that is what AQA expects then you should not consider He and H as part of the s-block. Then the answer is Be

Reply 6

Original post by Bertybassett
In a recent exam question, it asked for the element in the s block with this highest ionisation energy. The answer was Be. The periodic table provided by aqa doesn't show he and h directly in the column of the s block, but both of their highest energy electrons are in the s sub level.

ik you probably know the answer now lol
but helium and hydrogen are s-block elements
but the question asked for s-block metals :smile:

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