Question

Which is the longest group in the periodic table?

Answer 1

Hint: In a modern periodic table, which consists of $ 18 $ groups has a different number of elements in these groups. To find out which group is longest or contains the maximum number of elements simply count the number of elements vertically.

Complete answer:
In a modern periodic table the physical and chemical properties of the elements are periodic functions of their atomic numbers. There are a total $ 18 $ number of groups.
Elements in the same vertical column or group have a similar number of valence shell electronic configuration, the same number of electrons in the outer orbitals, and similar properties. Group numbers from $ 1,2 $ and $ 13 - 18 $ are together called representative elements and from $ 3 - 12 $ are called representative elements.
Now to answer the question let’s check out the number of elements in each group. We can clearly conclude that in a group $ 1 $ there are seven numbers of elements which are $ H,Li,Na,K,Rb,Cs,Fr $ . While the rest of the group has either six or four numbers of elements. Therefore our answer is Group $ 1 $ has the maximum number of elements and therefore the largest or longest group in the periodic table.
Let’s learn a little bit about the Group $ 1 $ elements. They are called the alkali metals because on reaction with the water they form alkali metals. They have the outermost electronic configuration as $ n{s^1} $ . They are reactive metals with low ionization enthalpies. They lose the outermost electron readily to form the $ {1^ + } $ ion. Their metallic character increases as we go down the group which means they become more metallic as we move vertically the periodic table.

Note:
The elements of the alkali metals as well as the alkaline metal which form the $ s $ block elements are never found pure in nature as they are highly reactive in nature. Also the compounds of $ s $ block elements are predominantly ionic except $ \;Lithium $ and $ Beryllium $