How would you explain how period and group trends in atomic radii are related to electron configuration?

Answer 1

Atomic radii are influenced by two factors: (i) nuclear charge; (ii) shielding by other electrons. We can address the Periodic trend.

Why do atomic radii increase down a group but decrease across a period?

The atomic nucleus contracts as we move across the Period due to the increased nuclear charge; we should examine the trend in atomic nuclei as there is a contraction in atomic radii. This is because an additional proton added to the nucleus results in an additional electron added to the valence shell.

On the other hand, the filled electron shells effectively shield the nuclear charge as we descend a Group (a column), which is why the atomic radii INCREASE down a Group.

This is a serious matter, and you should feel very comfortable elucidating and justifying Periodic trends.

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Answer 2

The trends in atomic radii across periods and groups are related to electron configuration because atomic radii generally decrease across periods from left to right due to increasing effective nuclear charge, which attracts the outer electrons closer to the nucleus. Within a group, atomic radii increase as you move down the group because of the addition of electron shells, which increases the distance between the outermost electrons and the nucleus.

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Answer from HIX Tutor

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.

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