Step 1: Definition of Period.
A period in the periodic table refers to a horizontal row of elements, which contains a set number of elements depending on the electron configuration and the number of available orbitals.
Step 2: Elements in the Fifth Period.
The fifth period contains the following elements:
\[
\text{K, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge, As, Se, Br, Kr}
\]
These elements range from potassium (K) to krypton (Kr), totaling 18 elements.
Step 3: Conclusion.
Hence, there are 18 elements in the fifth period of the modern periodic table.