Question

compare the van der waals radius with following

1) covalent radius

2) ionic radius of Br(3)

Answer 1

The van der Waals radius is the radius of an atom that is not chemically bonded. In other words, it is the distance of closest approach between two atoms that are merely colliding with one another without reacting to form a bond. On the other hand the covalent radius is the radius of an atom that is covalently bonded to another atom. It is determined empirically from known bond lengths. The van der Waals radius will always be larger than the covalent radius.