How does each column of the periodic table relate to electron configuration?

1 Answer
Feb 6, 2017

For main group elements, the column, the Group number..........

Explanation:

#"For main group elements, the column, the Group number"##"........represents the number of valence electrons."#

Hydrogen is in #"Group I"#, and has the one valence electron. Chlorine is in #"Group VII"#, and has SEVEN valence electrons.

The #"Group number"# also represents the maximum oxidation number that the element can attain. To take chlorine again, this element can exhibit a #+VII# oxidation state, i.e. in #ClO_4^-#, and cannot be further oxidized.