Properties [1-4] The p-block element ’s penultimate shell consists of 2, 8, or 18 electrons. Except for inert gases, p-block elements have a wide range of oxidation states. They run from +n to (n-8). Here, n is the number of electrons in the outermost shell. The p-block elements have covalency, but higher members can have electrovalency. Highly electronegative elements , like fluorine, chlorine, and other halogens, display electrovalency by accepting electrons and forming anions. Some p ... Learn about the p block elements in chemistry. Discover which elements they are, their location, the electron configuration, and properties. What are the p-Block Elements ? P block elements are those in which the last electron enters any of the three p -orbitals of their respective shells. Since a p -subshell has three degenerate p -orbitals each of which can accommodate two electrons, therefore in all there are six groups of p-block elements . There are 35 recognized p block elements , spanning a diverse set that includes boron, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, fluorine, neon, and others down each group. This wide spectrum includes main group elements central to topics like oxidation numbers, molecular geometry, and chemical bonding.