What Are the Elements in Groups 1a to 8a Called?

Some of the main group elements have common names, such as the alkali metals (1A), the alkaline earths (2A), the halogens (7A) and the noble gases (8A). There also is a B group of transition metals that falls in between the 2A and 3A main groups. With the exception of hydrogen, the lanthanides and the actinides, all other elements are main-group elements. The lightest main-group elements are helium, lithium, beryllium, boron, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and fluorine.