Question

Arrange the following elements in the decreasing order of their atomic radius: oxygen, carbon, lithium.

• A. Lithium > oxygen > carbon
• B. Carbon > oxygen > lithium
• C. Oxygen > carbon > lithium
• D. Lithium > carbon > oxygen

Answer 1

The correct option is D Lithium > carbon > oxygen

An atomic radius is the distance between the nucleus of the atom and its ouermost shell.
Lithium, carbon and oxygen are present in same period of a periodic table. As we move from left to right across any period, the atomic radii decreases as the effective nuclear charge increases.
So the correct order is:
Lithium > carbon > oxygen