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Question

As oxygen has an atomic radius greater than nitrogen similarly, does sulphur has an atomic radius greater than phosphorus?

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Solution

When moving along a period, the atomic radius is supposed to decrease. However, oxygen has a slightly higher atomic radius than nitrogen. This is because nitrogen has an electronic configuration 2p3 having its orbital half-filled and hence there is less repulsion between the 2p3 electrons. Oxygen, however, has an electronic configuration of 2p4, having one paired electron in one of its orbitals. This leads to inter-electronic repulsion and thus increases the atomic radius slightly.
Across a period, effective nuclear charge increases as electron shielding remain constant. A higher effective nuclear charge causes greater attraction to the electrons, pulling the electron cloud closer to the nucleus which results in a smaller atomic radius.
Hence, Phosphorus has a larger atomic radius than Sulphur
No, sulphur does not have an atomic radius greater than phosphorus.


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