- #1
skepticwulf
- 74
- 1
Atomic radii of Na is much bigger than of Cl yet the drawings in Chemistry books often depict Na atoms smaller than Cl. Is there a reason for that??
Atomic radius is the distance from the nucleus of an atom to its outermost electron. It is typically measured in picometers (pm) or angstroms (Å).
The atomic radius of sodium is larger than that of chlorine. This is because sodium has one less electron in its outermost shell than chlorine, causing the outer electrons to be more loosely held and the atom to be larger.
As you move across a period on the periodic table, atomic radius decreases. This is due to the increasing number of protons in the nucleus, which causes a stronger pull on the outer electrons, making the atom smaller.
The larger atomic radius of sodium makes it more reactive than chlorine. Sodium is more likely to lose its outer electron and form positive ions, whereas chlorine is more likely to gain an electron and form negative ions. This difference in reactivity can lead to the formation of ionic compounds such as sodium chloride (NaCl).
Atomic radius can vary slightly depending on the chemical environment of the atom, but it is considered a constant value for a specific element. However, the atomic radius of an element can change slightly due to the effects of isotopes, which have a different number of neutrons in the nucleus.