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Atomic Radius: Figure 1 Shows The Atomic Radius Between Two Nucleic

Atomic radius is the distance from the nucleus to the outermost electron shell or half the distance between two nuclei in a diatomic molecule. Atomic radius decreases across a period as the effective nuclear charge pulling electrons closer increases. Atomic radius increases down a group as the screening effect weakens the effective nuclear charge, pushing valence electrons further from the nucleus due to electron-electron repulsions.

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166 views6 pages

Atomic Radius: Figure 1 Shows The Atomic Radius Between Two Nucleic

Atomic radius is the distance from the nucleus to the outermost electron shell or half the distance between two nuclei in a diatomic molecule. Atomic radius decreases across a period as the effective nuclear charge pulling electrons closer increases. Atomic radius increases down a group as the screening effect weakens the effective nuclear charge, pushing valence electrons further from the nucleus due to electron-electron repulsions.

Uploaded by

Jun Hong Tee
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Atomic radius

• Atomic radius is the distance from the centre of the nucleus to the
outermost electron shell.
• Atomic radius is also defined as one half the distance (d) between two
nuclei in a diatomic molecule.

Figure 1 shows the atomic radius


between two nucleic.
Variation of Atomic Radius
Across Period
Decreases from left to right across a period.
Exceptions: oxygen (Group 16) radius being slightly greater than the nitrogen
(Group 15) radius.
Protons are added to the nucleus as electrons are being added to the same
principal energy level within a period. The electrons are pulled closer to the
nucleus because of its increased positive charge. Effective nuclear charge
increases as electron shielding remains constant. A higher effective nuclear
charge causes greater attractions to the electrons, pulling the electron cloud
closer to the nucleus.
Since the force of attraction between nuclei and electrons increases, the size of
the atoms decreases.
The effect lessens as one moves further to the right in a period because of
electron-electron repulsions that would otherwise cause the atom’s size to
increase.
Figure 2 show the trend of atomic radius
across period and down the group.
Variation of Atomic Radius
Going Down a Group
Increases as going down a group.
Screening effect / Shielding effect:
The result of the mutual repulsion between the electrons in the inner electron
shell with those in the outer shell.

Sodium, Na Potassium, K
Na 2 2 6 1 K
1s 2s 2p 3s 1s22s22p63s23p64s1
Period 3, Group 1 Period 4, Group 1
Stronger repulsion
Variation of Atomic Radius
Going Down a Group
Both nuclear charge and screening effect increases
Due to the increasing of no. of protons together with no. of electrons.
Screening effect is more significant
As more orbitals are used to fill in the electrons, the inner electrons shield the valence
electrons from being attracted by the nucleus.
The forces of attraction between the valence electrons and nucleus become weaker.

Zeff = Nuclear charge, Z – Screening constant, σ


Increasing in the screening effect causes the effective nuclear charge to
decrease, valence electrons are held loosely by the nucleus.
(referring to the analogy graph in the next slide)
Variation of Atomic Radius
Going Down a Group
Analogy graph
c h a r ge, Z
Nu clear

harg e, Z eff
lea r c
enuc σ
Eff e c t i v
s t a nt,
con
i n g
e e n
Scr

Proton number

At the same time,


Number of negatively-charged electron shells increased
Stronger repulsion between the shells
Valence electron shell is pushed further from the nucleus
Hence, atomic radius increases as going down a group

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