Final answer:
The principle stating that the physical and chemical properties of the elements are periodic functions of their atomic numbers is known as the Periodic Law (Option C). The periodic table exemplifies this principle by grouping elements with similar properties together based on their atomic number.
Step-by-step explanation:
The principle that states that the physical and chemical properties of the elements are periodic functions of their atomic number is C) Periodic Law.
The periodic table is a pivotal tool in chemistry, which arranges elements by increasing atomic number in such a manner that elements with comparable chemical and physical properties fall into the same vertical columns, known as groups. Dmitri Mendeleev is credited with its initial creation, and the modern version includes not only atomic numbers but typically atomic masses, symbols, and sometimes names for each element. The periodic table displays elements in a series of rows and columns where each row is termed a 'period' and each column a 'group'.
According to the periodic law, when elements are sorted by ascending atomic number, there is a periodic recurrence in their properties. This means that elements within the same group exhibit similarities in their chemical reactivity and other characteristics. Therefore, the periodic law is what allows chemists to predict the properties of elements and their compounds.