Atomic Sizes Chart: All Elements in Periodic Table

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the representation and calculation of atomic sizes for all elements in the periodic table. Participants explore various sources for atomic radius charts, the methods used to derive these values, and the implications of atomic size in relation to electronic structure and bonding.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant seeks a comprehensive chart of atomic sizes, noting that existing atomic radius charts are based on bonded atoms and may not reflect actual atomic sizes.
  • Several participants share links to resources, particularly from webelements, that provide representations of atomic sizes.
  • There is a discussion about the absence of representations for noble gases, attributed to their inertness and difficulty in determining covalent radii.
  • Some participants question the relative sizes of diatomic molecules like H2 compared to other atoms, with one noting that the He atom is smaller than the H atom.
  • Participants discuss the trend of atomic radii decreasing as electronic orbitals fill, with one suggesting that this trend contradicts intuition and asking for explanations.
  • There are inquiries about the accuracy of the atomic radius values presented, with one participant expressing concern over the rounding of values and the methods used to derive them.
  • One participant speculates on the representation of hydrogen in charts, questioning whether it is depicted as a point due to its size or as a representation of a hydrogen ion.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express various viewpoints regarding the accuracy and representation of atomic sizes, with no consensus reached on the most accurate method for determining these values. The discussion includes both agreement on certain trends and ongoing questions about specific details.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that atomic sizes are derived from bond lengths, which may not accurately represent the physical size of atoms. The discussion highlights the variability in atomic radius values based on different derivation methods, and the implications of electronic structure on atomic size are also considered.

PH7SICS
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The following link shows how to calculate the size of an atom, where can I find a chart where this has been done for all the elements in the periodic table? I know you can get charts of atomic radius but those are based on the distance between the nucleus of two bonded atoms and therefore the radius is slightly less then the actual radius. Basically I,m looking for a chart which most accurately displays the sizes of atoms.

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/particles/atomsiz.html
 
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Last edited:
DaveC426913 said:
Why are there no representations of the noble gases?
The atomic sizes are derived from various bond lengths. The noble gases do not form bonds with other elements or among themselves (at least not very well) because of their inertness, making it very difficult to determine a covalent radius.
 
Gokul43201 said:
The atomic sizes are derived from various bond lengths.

Is a H2 molecule really that much smaller than, well, every other atom and diatom?
 
Gokul43201 said:
The atomic sizes are derived from various bond lengths.
Ah. That's what I suspected.

So, these aren't really reps of the diameter of the outermost shell i.e. the "physical" size, they're reps of the operating diameter of the atom?
 
cesiumfrog said:
Is a H2 molecule really that much smaller than, well, every other atom and diatom?
Actually, the He-atom is smaller than the H-atom, as should be expected. Also, since atomic radii can be very crudely expected to go like some rapidly increasing function of the principal quantum number of the valence shell (the significant variation along a period is evidence for the crudeness), the relative sizes down a group show the largest variation at the top of the group. For simplicity, if the radius went like n2, then we'd expect R(H)/R(Li) ~ 1/4 (measured value 0.26) , while R(Na)/R(K) ~ 9/16 (measured value 0.8) and R(Rb)/R(Cs) ~ 25/36 (measured value 0.9).
 
  • #10
tabchouri said:
It's interesting, the radius of atoms dicreases with the electronic orbit beeing filled, contrary to intuition.
That depends on how well-developed your intuition is.

And it's pretty homogeneous overs all orbits.
Anyone could explain why ?
Going right along a period involves a small increase in the atomic number. Increasing the number of valence electrons might be expected to increase the atomic radius, but increasing the number of protons at the same rate should then be expected to cause a decrease in radius. So, to a first order in intuition, there should be no change in radius along a period.

A better intuition to use is that of the effective (screened) nuclear charge. Hopping by one atom to the right increases the number of protons and electrons by 1. The additional electron can not completely screen the charge of the additional proton, resulting in a net increase in the nuclear attraction to the outer electrons.
 
  • #11
The data given my web elements varies considerably depending on how the atomic radius was derived. I don't know if any of those values given were obtained using the calculation in the link I provided. I notice that all the values have been rounded up so I'm guessing its not the most accurate chart. In any case dose anyone know which value is most accurate ie which method?
 
  • #12
Gokul43201 said:
Actually, the He-atom is smaller than the H-atom, as should be expected. Also, since atomic radii can be very crudely expected to go like some rapidly increasing function of the principal quantum number of the valence shell (the significant variation along a period is evidence for the crudeness), the relative sizes down a group show the largest variation at the top of the group. For simplicity, if the radius went like n2, then we'd expect R(H)/R(Li) ~ 1/4 (measured value 0.26) , while R(Na)/R(K) ~ 9/16 (measured value 0.8) and R(Rb)/R(Cs) ~ 25/36 (measured value 0.9).

Does that really explain why the chart you mentioned depicts H as only a point, compared to the other atoms depictions? I wondered if they were trying to represent the size of a hydrogen ion.
 
  • #13
cesiumfrog said:
Does that really explain why the chart you mentioned depicts H as only a point, compared to the other atoms depictions? I wondered if they were trying to represent the size of a hydrogen ion.
I suspect that's either an artifact of the picture resolution or an error of carelessness. The H-atom ought to be only a little smaller than the F-atom (last ball in the second period). There would be no sense in representing the size of the H+ ion (a proton) in that chart.
 

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