What trend is observed in atomic radius across a period in the periodic table?
Practice Questions
Q1
What trend is observed in atomic radius across a period in the periodic table?
Increases
Decreases
Remains constant
Varies randomly
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
What trend is observed in atomic radius across a period in the periodic table?
Step 1: Understand what a period is in the periodic table. A period is a horizontal row of elements.
Step 2: Know that as you move from left to right across a period, you are adding more protons to the nucleus of the atom.
Step 3: Realize that more protons mean a stronger positive charge in the nucleus.
Step 4: Understand that this stronger positive charge pulls the electrons closer to the nucleus.
Step 5: Conclude that because the electrons are pulled closer, the atomic radius (the size of the atom) decreases as you move from left to right across a period.
