The periodic table is divided into vertical columns called groups. Elements in the same group have similar chemical properties because they have the same number of valence electrons. For example:
- Group 1 elements (like sodium and potassium) are highly reactive metals.
- Group 18 elements (like neon and argon) are noble gases and are inert.
Each group is labeled with a number from 1 to 18. Sometimes, the groups are also named:
- Group 1: Alkali metals
- Group 2: Alkaline earth metals
- Group 16: Chalcogens
- Group 17: Halogens
- Group 18: Noble gases
For example, Polonium (Po) belongs to group 16. This means it's part of the chalcogens and shares some properties with other group 16 elements, such as oxygen and sulfur.