Periodic Table Groups Explained! (With Labeled Group Names)

Periodic table groups are the vertical columns on the periodic table. There are a total of 18 groups (vertical columns) on the periodic table.

• Group 1: Alkali metals (hydrogen excluded)
• Group 2: Alkaline earth metals
• Group 3-11: Transition and inner transition metals group
• Group 13: Boron group
• Group 14: Carbon group
• Group 15: Nitrogen group (pnictogens)
• Group 16: Oxygen group (chalcogens)
• Group 17: Halogen group 
• Group 18: Noble gases

Let’s discuss each of these groups of periodic table one by one.

Group 1: Alkali metals

Alkali metals are the group 1 elements present on the periodic table. Hydrogen is not included in the alkali metals group because it is classified as a nonmetal.

The list of alkali metals with its atomic number and symbol is mentioned below.

Atomic number	Symbol	Name of element
3	Li	Lithium
11	Na	Sodium
19	K	Potassium
37	Rb	Rubidium
55	Cs	Cesium
87	Fr	Francium

Group 2: Alkaline earth metals

Alkaline earth metals are the group 2 elements present on the periodic table.

The list of alkaline earth metals with its atomic number and symbol is mentioned below.

Atomic number	Symbol	Name of element
4	Be	Beryllium
12	Mg	Magnesium
20	Ca	Calcium
38	Sr	Strontium
56	Ba	Barium
88	Ra	Radium

Group 3-11: Transition and Inner transition metals group

Transition metals and Inner transition metals are the elements that are lying from group 3 to group 11.

The elements lying in the two rows which are lying at the bottom of the periodic table are the inner transition metals.

These elements are the part of transition metals only, but they have different properties. So they are placed separately at the bottom of the periodic table.

These two rows of inner transition elements are known as lanthanides and actinides.

Group 13: Boron group

Boron group includes the group 13 elements present on the periodic table.

The list of boron group elements with its atomic number and symbol is mentioned below.

Atomic number	Symbol	Name of element
5	B	Boron
13	Al	Aluminum
31	Ga	Gallium
49	In	Indium
81	Tl	Thallium
113	Nh	Nihonium

Group 14: Carbon group

Carbon group includes the group 14 elements present on the periodic table.

The list of carbon group elements with its atomic number and symbol is mentioned below.

Atomic number	Symbol	Name of element
6	C	Carbon
14	Si	Silicon
32	Ge	Germanium
50	Sn	Tin
82	Pb	Lead
114	Fl	Flerovium

Group 15: Nitrogen group (pnictogens)

Nitrogen group (also known as pnictogens) includes the group 15 elements present on the periodic table.

The list of nitrogen group elements with its atomic number and symbol is mentioned below.

Atomic number	Symbol	Name of element
7	N	Nitrogen
15	P	Phosphorus
33	As	Arsenic
51	Sb	Antimony
83	Bi	Bismuth
115	Mc	Moscovium

Group 16: Oxygen group (chalcogens)

Oxygen group (also known as chalcogens) includes the group 16 elements present on the periodic table.

The list of oxygen group elements with its atomic number and symbol is mentioned below.

Atomic number	Symbol	Name of element
8	O	Oxygen
16	S	Sulfur
34	Se	Selenium
52	Te	Tellurium
84	Po	Polonium
116	Lv	Livermorium

Group 17: Halogen group

Halogen group includes the group 17 elements present on the periodic table.

The list of halogen group elements with its atomic number and symbol is mentioned below.

Atomic number	Symbol	Name of element
9	F	Fluorine
17	Cl	Chlorine
35	Br	Bromine
53	I	Iodine
85	At	Astatine
117	Ts	Tennessine

Group 18: Noble gases group

Noble gases group includes the group 18 elements present on the periodic table.

The list of noble gases with its atomic number and symbol is mentioned below.

Atomic number	Symbol	Name of element
2	He	Helium
10	Ne	Neon
18	Ar	Argon
36	Kr	Krypton
54	Xe	Xenon
86	Rn	Radon
118	Og	Oganesson

External resources:

1. Elements Organized by Group. (2015, July 26). Chemistry LibreTexts. https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Inorganic_Chemistry/Supplemental_Modules_and_Websites_(Inorganic_Chemistry)/Descriptive_Chemistry/Elements_Organized_by_Group
2. Reading the Periodic Table. (n.d.). Reading the Periodic Table. http://www.csun.edu/~psk17793/G%20Chemistry/reading_the_periodic_table.htm
3. Groups and periods – The periodic table – GCSE Chemistry (Single Science) Revision – WJEC – BBC Bitesize. (n.d.). BBC Bitesize. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zv2f3k7/revision/2
4. IU.edu. (n.d.). https://cpanhd.sitehost.iu.edu/C101webnotes/composition/elements.html
5. Periodic Table of Elements: Los Alamos National Laboratory. (n.d.). Periodic Table of Elements: Los Alamos National Laboratory. https://periodic.lanl.gov/group.shtml
6. O. (n.d.). 2.5 The Periodic Table – Chemistry. 2.5 the Periodic Table – Chemistry. https://iu.pressbooks.pub/openstaxchemistry/chapter/2-5-the-periodic-table/
7. Group (periodic table) – Wikipedia. (2018, September 15). Group (Periodic Table) – Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_(periodic_table)