Considering volume of atom , what radius

In summary, the conversation discusses the concept of finding the volume of an atom, which is not strictly defined due to the nature of atoms extending throughout the universe. The speakers mention different types of radii, including covalent, Van der Waals, and atomic, but note that they are not strictly defined. There is no "right" way to find the volume of an atom, and simply averaging these radii would not be a valid method. The conversation ends with a suggestion to use the Bohr radius or reference a chart with calculated radii for each element.
  • #1
Karimspencer
117
0
do you consider Covalent radius, Van der Waals radius or atomic radius?
 
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  • #2
Atoms don't have a strict radius or volume. Technically each atom extends through the whole universe. Now what do you use when you need an estimate for a volume? The choice is up to you, what works best depends on what you want to use the volume for.

Note also that the quantities you cite (covalent radius, vdW radius etc) are also not strictly defined.
 
  • #3
oh ok, so do you think the right way to find the volume of the atom is to find the average of the covalent radius, vdw radius and atomic radius?
 
  • #4
Karimspencer said:
oh ok, so do you think the right way to find the volume of the atom is to find the average of the covalent radius, vdw radius and atomic radius?
I said nothing even remotely suggesting this. There is no "right" way to "find" the volume of an atom, because it does not have one. Even if there was a right way, just averaging random unrelated quantities without any reason to so would most certainly not be it.
 
  • #5
Oh ok...
 
  • #6
Perhaps this article will help: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_radius
There is a chart at the bottom with the calculated radius of each element. I don't know what they based their calculations off of, but I'm sure you could either use those values or look at the references for more information.
 
  • #7
I'd just use the Bohr radius depending on the calculation.
 
  • #8
Thanks Drakkith , this chart helps a lot for my research...
 

1. What is the volume of an atom?

The volume of an atom is incredibly small and cannot be measured in traditional units like meters or cubic centimeters. It is typically measured in picometers (pm) or angstroms (Å). The volume of an atom can vary depending on the type of atom and its state (solid, liquid, or gas).

2. How is the volume of an atom calculated?

The volume of an atom is calculated by taking the cube of its radius. This is because atoms are often considered to be spherical in shape, so their volume can be represented by a cube with sides equal to the atom's radius.

3. What is the relationship between the volume of an atom and its mass?

The volume of an atom is not directly related to its mass. However, the density of an atom (mass/volume) can vary depending on the type of atom and its state. Generally, denser atoms will have a smaller volume compared to less dense atoms.

4. How does the volume of an atom affect its properties?

The volume of an atom does not have a direct effect on its properties. However, the size and volume of an atom can affect its reactivity and ability to bond with other atoms. Smaller atoms tend to be more reactive and form stronger bonds compared to larger atoms.

5. Can the volume of an atom change?

The volume of an atom can change under certain conditions, such as changes in temperature, pressure, or chemical reactions. However, the change in volume is typically very small and difficult to measure, as atoms are already incredibly small to begin with.

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