GRE Subject Test: Chemistry : Atomic Radius
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Example Questions
Example Question #11 : Atomic Radius
Which of the following atoms has the largest atomic radius?
Atomic radius increases down the periodic table and to the left. The atoms provided are all located on the same period (row). Lithium is located furthest to the left so it has the largest atomic radius. The reason for this phenomenon is that all of these atoms have their valence electrons in the n=2 energy level. However, each time we move to the right one atom, we add another electron to the valence shell and another proton in the nucleus. The more of each of these subatomic particles, the stronger the attractive force between them, thus the protons will pull the electrons closer to the nucleus, resulting in a smaller atomic radius.
Example Question #11 : Atomic Radius
Which atom would be expected to have the highest atomic radius?
Zinc
Titanium
Copper
Manganese
Titanium
The radius of an atom is determined by the sizes of the orbitals on its outermost shell. Below are the
atomic radius trends:
1. Atomic radius increases from top to bottom within each column.
2. Atomic radius decreases from left to right.
All the options given are located in row 4 of the periodic table. Because titanium is located furthest to the right on the periodic table, it has the highest atomic radius.
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