Question

How does valence vary in a group on going from top to bottom and left to right

Answer 1

In a group, from top to bottom the valency of elements remain the same because they have similar valence shell configuration however the shell no. differs.
While, in a period from left to right the valency first increases upto 4 and then decreases to zero (at noble gases).

The chemical properties of elements depend upon the number of electrons in the outer most shell of an atom. These electrons are called valence electrons and thus determines the valency of the atom or element In representative elements, the valency is generally equal to either n or (8 - n), where n is number of valence electrons in the atom.
In a period valence electrons increase from 0 to 8 on moving from left to right.

In a group, the number of valence electrons remains the same and therefore all elements in a group exhibit same valency e.g., all elements of group 1 have valency one and those of group 2 havevalency two. However the transition elements exhibit variable valency.