What is Group and Period in the Periodic Table?

In the periodic table, groups (also known as families) are the columns running vertically from top to bottom. Elements in the same group have similar chemical properties due to their similar electron configurations. The group number indicates the number of valence electrons an element has, which is crucial in determining its chemical behavior.

Periods, on the other hand, are the rows running horizontally from left to right. Elements within the same period do not necessarily share similar chemical properties, but they do have the same number of electron shells. As you move from left to right across a period, the number of protons and electrons increases by one, resulting in a gradual change in the chemical and physical properties of the elements.