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What Are the Vertical Columns in a Periodic Table Called?

Answer – The vertical columns in a periodic table are called groups.

Explanation: 

There are 18 groups in the modern periodic table. Elements in the same group have the same number of valence electrons and, therefore, share similar chemical properties. For example, elements lithium (Li), sodium (Na), and potassium (K) belong to Group 1, and each of them has one valence electron. Elements in Group 17 belong to the family of halogens, which are highly reactive non-metals that readily gain an electron and form halide ions, i.e., fluoride (F), chloride (Cl), and bromide (Br).

The modern periodic table
The modern periodic table depicts 118 elements.
Image credit: Sandbh / Wikimedia Commons (licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0)

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