Question

Down a group, atomic size and metallic character ____ while I.P, E.A, E.N and non-metallic character and nuclear charge _____.

• A. decrease , increase
• B. increase , decrease
• C. decrease , decrease
• D. increase , increase

Answer 1

The correct option is B increase , decrease

Moving down a group in the periodic table, the number of electrons and filled electron shells increases, but the number of valence electrons remains the same. The outermost electrons in a group are exposed to the same effective nuclear charge, but electrons are found farther from the nucleus as the number of filled energy shells increases. Therefore, the atomic radii increase.
Also, as we move down the group, metallic character increases and non-metallic character decreases.
Ionization energy decreases moving down a group (increasing atomic radius).
Electron affinity decreases moving down a group because a new electron would be further from the nucleus of a large atom.

In a group, the electronegativity decreases as atomic number increases, as a result of the increased distance between the valence electron and nucleus (greater atomic radius).
Also, as we move down the group, nuclear charge increases due to increases protons.