Question

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

Answer 1

Actually at first we need to know that electronic configuration of an element is related with the position on the periodic table. Periodic table consists of both columns as well as rows but here we need to focus on columns as it is asked in the given question. Always keep in mind that the elements included in each column exhibit the same valence shell electronic configuration. This main point is taken here to relate the question.

Complete answer:
Here , we have to consider the fact that for main group elements , the group number is determining the column number which in turn represents the number of valence electrons.
To understand easily and to relate the above fact with the given question, we shall move onto an example.
A simple example to point out here is the case of hydrogen.
We know that hydrogen has one valence electron and therefore it is placed in group I. Same principle is applied to all other elements to relate columns with respect to its electronic configuration.
If we take the case of chlorine , chlorine is considered in group VII as it contains 7 valence electrons.
We should also know that the group number is not only determining the electronic configuration, it also represents the maximum oxidation number which an element can access too.
For example, if we take the case of chlorine again, it can exhibit a $+ 7$ oxidation state and the fact is it cannot be oxidized further.

Therefore , in this way the column is related to electronic configuration.

Note: Here , we should be reminded of the fact that elements existing in the same column of periodic table have similar chemistry too. So everytime , while dealing with the problem regarding columns of periodic table we should be aware of the fact that the similarity of valence shell electron configuration implies us to determine the electron configuration of a particular atom solely by its position on the periodic table itself. Also the number of shells present in the atom is determined by the periodic number which is exactly equal to the number of shells .