Which of the following elements has the smallest atomic radius?
- ABromine
- BChlorine
- CSodium
- DCalcium
Solution & Step-by-step Explanation
Periodic trends indicate that atomic radius decreases across a period from left to right due to an increase in effective nuclear charge, and increases down a group due to the addition of electron shells.
* Sodium (, Period 3, Group 1) and Chlorine (, Period 3, Group 17): is smaller than .
* Calcium (, Period 4, Group 2) and Bromine (, Period 4, Group 17): is smaller than .
* Comparing Chlorine (Period 3) and Bromine (Period 4) in Group 17, Chlorine has fewer shells. Therefore, Chlorine () has the smallest atomic radius among the given choices.
* Sodium (, Period 3, Group 1) and Chlorine (, Period 3, Group 17): is smaller than .
* Calcium (, Period 4, Group 2) and Bromine (, Period 4, Group 17): is smaller than .
* Comparing Chlorine (Period 3) and Bromine (Period 4) in Group 17, Chlorine has fewer shells. Therefore, Chlorine () has the smallest atomic radius among the given choices.