A table where all the known elements are systematically arranged, in the increasing order of their atomic number.
It is divided into groups and periods.
It has 18 groups. Elements present in a group have the same valance shell electronic configuration. They are all chemically similar.
Similarly, the periodic table has a total of 7 periods. The number of shells present in an atom signifies the period it belongs to.
The elements in the table also show a gradual change in their properties, as the atomic number increases. And after a regular interval, the properties repeat themselves. This is called periodicity.
Hence, the tabular arrangement with periodic properties leads to a “periodic table” name.