why is the periodic table arranged that way
The reason the periodic table is the shape that it is has to do with the electronic configurations of the elements. The periodic table is arranged so that all the elements in each period (row) have similar electronic configurations to the other elements in that period. That also often means that elements in the same group (column) show similar chemical reactivity. Electrons in atoms are arranged in different orbitals (named s, p, d, and âf).