What Are The Vertical Columns On The Periodic Table Called

What are the Vertical Columns on the Periodic Table Called?

The periodic table is a chart that organizes all of the known elements into different categories based on their atomic structure. It is an essential tool for chemists and other scientists who work with elements. The elements in the periodic table are arranged in vertical columns called groups, or families, and horizontal rows called periods. The vertical columns are grouped according to their chemical and physical properties.

Grouping the Periodic Table

The periodic table is divided into 18 groups, numbered from 1 to 18, and seven periods, labeled 1 to 7. Each horizontal row is a period and each vertical column is a group. The elements in the periodic table are arranged in order of increasing atomic number, which determines the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom. As you move across a period, the number of protons increases. As you move down a group, the number of protons stays the same, but the number of electrons increases.

Groups and Families

Groups are also known as families, and each group contains elements with similar properties. For example, Group 1, or the alkali metals, contains elements such as lithium, sodium, and potassium. These elements all have one electron in their outer shell, and they all share similar chemical and physical properties, such as being soft, reactive, and highly flammable. Group 2, or the alkaline earth metals, contain elements such as magnesium, calcium, and beryllium. These elements all have two electrons in their outer shell, and they share similar chemical and physical properties, such as being hard, reactive, and having a high boiling point.

Periods and Blocks

The periods in the periodic table are divided into four blocks, which are labeled s, p, d, and f. Each block contains elements with similar electronic configurations. The s block contains elements in the first two periods, the p block contains elements in the third to eighth periods, the d block contains elements in the ninth to twelfth periods, and the f block contains elements in the thirteenth to eighteenth periods. The s block elements are all nonmetals, the p block elements are mostly nonmetals and a few metals, the d block elements are mostly metals, and the f block elements are all metals.

Lanthanides and Actinides

The lanthanides and actinides are two groups of elements that are found in the seventh period of the periodic table. The lanthanides are elements 58 to 71, and the actinides are elements 89 to 103. These elements are called inner transition elements because they have electrons that transition between the f and d orbitals. These elements have similar chemical and physical properties, and they are often referred to as the “rare earth elements”.

Conclusion

The periodic table is an essential tool for chemists and other scientists who work with elements. The elements in the periodic table are arranged in vertical columns called groups, or families, and horizontal rows called periods. Each group contains elements with similar properties, and the periods are divided into four blocks. In addition, the seventh period contains two groups of elements called the lanthanides and actinides. Understanding the structure and organization of the periodic table is essential for chemists and other scientists.

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