Question regarding the Periodic Table

[xraydelta1]

Hi...

Maybe I was away that day, but can someone tell me what the significance of the columns are in the Periodic table of Elements.
I seem to recall the elements in the extreme right column, under Helium, are all inert gases, so is it true that each column of elements shares a unique property?

Thanks in Advance....

[NenarTronian]

Each column or "period" does, yeah.

[kgargar]

yup each member element in a column shares unique property. as far as i can remember, they have equal number of valence shell electrons. which means they interact with other elements (almost) similarly.

[James R]

Yeah. The outer shell electron configuration of each element in the same column is the same. That means that elements in the same group (column) have similar chemical properties.

[Agesilaus]

You'll generally see a progression in properties from the top to the bottom of a period too. And when you get to the transition elements matters aren't so clear cut.

[chroot]

A period is a row of the periodic table. The period is equivalent to the number of shells (filled or partially filled) surrounding the nucleus.

A group is a column of the periodic table. Elements in the same group have the same valence (outermost shell) configuration. Since chemistry is really just the study of valence shell electrons, elements in the same group can be said to have similar chemistries. For example, all of the noble gases (the farthest right period) have their valence shells completely full. As a result, they do not typically interact strongly with other elements.

As the atomic radius increases down the group, however, shielding and other "second order" effects begin to change the chemistry slightly. Silicon, for example, is "similar" in chemistry to carbon, but not identical -- even though they both have the same number of valence electrons.

- Warren