Which statement correctly describes the arrangement of elements in the periodic table?

The arrangement of elements in the periodic table is primarily designed to reflect the similar chemical properties of elements. This means that elements in the same group or column share characteristics, such as their reactivity and the types of bonds they form. For example, the alkali metals are all found in the same vertical group and exhibit similar trends in their physical and chemical behavior.

Such arrangement is crucial as it allows chemists to make predictions about how different elements will interact with one another based on their position in the table. The periodic table is organized in a way that showcases these similarities, making it an invaluable tool for understanding and utilizing chemical principles.

In contrast, the arrangement does not maintain equal columns and rows nor does it simply sort elements in descending order of atomic number. Additionally, the periodic table consists of 18 distinct groups (not 16), further emphasizing the importance of understanding chemical properties over any mere numerical ordering.