The periodic table is a table of chemical elements that are arranged in order of Atomic number. The atomic number is the number of protons or electrons in an atom. It is usually in rows and columns. Elements with a similar atomic structure appear are in horizontal rows. Elements with the same number of valence electrons, the number of electrons on the outer shell, are in verticle columns.

The Periodic Table

Groups or Families in the periodic table are the verticle columns. Each column includes elements that share the same number of valence electrons, the number of electrons on the outer shell, therefore exhibiting similar chemical properties in the atom and to atom bonding. The number of valence electrons can also determine the reactivity of the element. The closer it is to have a full shell of electrons the less reactive the element will be, but if it is only a couple away from a full shell then it is also highly reactive. There are 18 groups/families and some include the Alkali Earth Metals and the Noble Gasses.

Groups/Families

Protons can be found inside the nucleus of an atom. The protons inside an atom's nucleus help bind the nucleus together. They also attract the negatively charged electrons and keep them in orbit around the nucleus. The number of protons in an atom's nucleus determines which chemical element it is because it determines the atomic number of an atom. Protons contribute to the mass of an atom and provide a positive charge to the nucleus. Since the atom is electrically neutral, the number of electrons must equal the number of protons.

Role Protons

The elements can be classified as metals, nonmetals, or metalloids.  Metals are good conductors of heat and electricity and are malleable and ductile. Nonmetals are (usually) poor conductors of heat and electricity, and are not malleable or ductile; many of the elemental nonmetals are gases at room temperature, while others are liquids and others are solids.  The metalloids are intermediate in their properties.  In their physical properties, they are more like nonmetals, but under certain circumstances, several of them can be made to conduct electricity.  These semiconductors are extremely important in computers and other electronic devices.

Metals, nonmetals, and metalloids

Valence electrons are the outermost electrons of an atom. These electrons are important as they govern the atom's electronegativity, electron affinity, and ionization energy, which leads to things such as covalent and ionic bonds. These can be found by looking at the number of the group, or family that they are in on the periodic table. For instance, Magnesium (Mg), is in Group 2, which denotes that it has 2 valence electrons. You can find the valence electrons of each element based on which group it is in. If it is in group 5 then it has 5 valence electrons.

Valence Electrons

The Families/ Groups in the Periodic Table

Alkali Metals

Alkaline Earth Metals

Transition Metals

Boron Family

Carbon Family

Nitrogen Family

Oxygen Family

Halogens

Noble Gases

The Families/Groups

Alkali Metals

The alkali metals are six chemical elements in Group 1, the leftmost column in the periodic table. They are lithium (Li), sodium (Na), potassium (K), rubidium (Rb), cesium (Cs), and francium (Fr). (Like the other elements in Group 1, hydrogen (H) has one electron in its outermost shell, but it is not classed as an alkali metal since it is not a metal but a gas at room temperature.) Alkalies are hydroxide compounds of these elements, such as sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide. Alkalies are very strong bases that are caustic. Lye, for example, is sodium hydroxide. Alkalies react with acids to form salts. The alkali metals have low melting points. Lithium melts at 180.5 °C (356.9 °F); cesium melts at just 28.4 °C (83.1 °F). These elements are also excellent conductors of heat and electricity. The alkali metals are very reactive and so are usually found in compounds with other elements, such as salt (sodium chloride, NaCl) and potassium chloride (KCl). Sodium is by far the most important alkali metal in terms of industrial use.

Alkali Metals

Alkaline Earth Metals

Alkaline-earth metal, any of the six chemical elements that comprise Group 2 (IIa) of the periodic table. The elements are beryllium (Be), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), strontium (Sr), barium (Ba), and radium (Ra). Alkaline earth was thus distinguished from the alkalies and other earth, such as alumina and the rare earth. The alkaline-earth elements are highly metallic and are good conductors of electricity. They have a gray-white luster when freshly cut but tarnish readily in the air, particularly the heavier members of the group. Beryllium is sufficiently hard to scratch glass, but barium is only slightly harder than lead. Calcium can be found in our bones and can be broken down by enzymes. Magnesium can be found in water and is essential for our body to function.

Transition Metals

Transition metals are any of various chemical elements that have valence electrons—i.e., electrons that can participate in the formation of chemical bonds—in two shells instead of only one. The most striking similarities shared by the 24 elements in question are that they are all metals and that most of them are hard, strong, and lustrous, have high melting and boiling points and are good conductors of heat and electricity. Many of the elements are technologically important: titanium, iron, nickel, and copper, for example, are used structurally and in electrical technology. Second, the transition metals form many useful alloys, with one another and with other metallic elements. Third, most of these elements dissolve in mineral acids, although a few, such as platinum, silver, and gold, are called “noble”—that is, are unaffected by simple (nonoxidizing) acids. 

Boron Family

The boron group are the chemical elements in group 13 of the periodic table, comprising boron, aluminum, gallium, indium, thallium, and perhaps also the chemically uncharacterized nihonium. The elements in the boron group are characterized by having three valence electrons. Physical properties of the Boron Family include, good conductors of heat, good conductors of electricity, boron is a metalloid and the others are metals. It is very abundant in the Earth's crust. It has a low density and is lightweight. Some chemical properties include as oxidation occurs AI to forms an impenetrable coating of protection. Boron behaves like Silicon. They can be found in Ores. Boron which is a metalloid can be found in fireworks, and aluminum which is metal is commonly known for being flat sheets of metal that are used to wrap food.