Question

elements are grouped in Columns of the periodic table how would you describe a vertical group

Answer 1

A verticle group (up and down) is called a GROUP. The horizontal groups (left to right) are called PERIODS

Answer 2

Vertical groups represent different families on the periodic table. I took Chemistry last year, and I remember one vertical column was all the halogens, one was the alkaline earth metals, one was the noble gases.