Prime numbers are positive, non-zero numbers that have exactly two factors 1 and itself.
For example, 7 is prime because 1 and 7 are its only positive integer factors. 8 isn't a prime number(composite) because it has the divisors 2 and 3 in addition to 1 and 6.
The number 11 items cannot be all placed into several equal-size columns of more than 1 item each without some extra items leftover (a remainder). Therefore the number 11 is a prime. The number 12 is not a prime, as 12 items can be placed into 3 equal-size columns of 4 each (among other ways).