What are the vertical columns on the periodic table called?

What are the vertical columns on the periodic table called?

• A. Groups
• B. Periods
• C. Blocks
• D. Families

Answer: (A)

Vertical columns in the periodic table are called groups. This naming reflects that elements in the same column share similar chemical properties because they have the same number of electrons in their outer shell, giving them similar reactivity. The table is also organized into horizontal rows called periods, which show how properties change as you move across the row. A block refers to a region defined by the orbital type being filled (s, p, d, or f), not to a column. While “families” is sometimes used informally to mean groups, the standard term here is groups.

Vertical columns in the periodic table are called groups. This naming reflects that elements in the same column share similar chemical properties because they have the same number of electrons in their outer shell, giving them similar reactivity. The table is also organized into horizontal rows called periods, which show how properties change as you move across the row. A block refers to a region defined by the orbital type being filled (s, p, d, or f), not to a column. While “families” is sometimes used informally to mean groups, the standard term here is groups.