How do the atomic radii of elements change as we go from left to right in a period of the periodic table?

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Solution

As we go from left to right in a period of the periodic table, the atomic radii decrease.

As we move from left to right in a period, the no of electrons in the outer shell of the atom increase, which results in an increase in nuclear charge of the nucleus, as the same no of protons are added to the nucleus. This increases the force of attraction between the nucleus and electrons in the outer shell.

Due to this increased force, the size of the atom shrinks towards the nucleus, and hence the size decreases

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Similar questions

(a) What is a period in a periodic table? How do atomic structures (electron arrangements) change in a period with the increase in atomic numbers from left to right?

(b) How do the following change on going from left to right in a period of the periodic table?

(i) Chemical reactivity of elements (ii) Nature of oxides of elements

Give examples in support of your answer.

(a) How does the size of atoms (atomic size) generally vary in going from left to right in a period of the periodic table? Why does it vary this way?

(b) What happens to the metallic character of the elements as we move from left to right in a period of the periodic table?

How would the tendency to lose electrons change as we go from left to right across a period of the periodic table?

How many groups and periods are there in the modern periodic table? How do the atomic size and metallic character of elements vary as we move:

(a) down a group and
(b) from left to right in a period

Q. Why Atomic size decreases as we go from left to right in Modern Periodic Table?

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