Atomic Radius

What it is:
- Measure of the size of the atom
- Distance from nucleus to the boundary of
the surrounding cloud of electrons
- Difficult to define because the electrons do
not have defined orbits so their positions
are estimated.
Periodic Trends (Going Down a Column)

- Principle quantum number increases

- Atomic radius increases
- examples:
- F = .71?
- Cl = .99?
- Br = 1.14?
- I = 1.33?
Periodic Trends (Left to Right in a Period)

- Effective nuclear charge increases

- Atomic radius decreases
- examples:
- Na = 1.86?
- Al = 1.43?
- S = 1.04?
- Ar = .97?
 How to measure:
- No fixed radius
- Measure the distance between the nuclei
of two bonded atoms
- The radii is determined by the bonds that
they form
Example Problem:
The atomic radius of F=64, Br=114 and
I=138 pm respectively. Based on this
information estimate a reasonable atomic
radius of Cl.
a) 53 pm
b) 89 pm
c) 126 pm
d) 162 pm
e) 196 pm
Example Problem:
Using the periodic table and the known
periodic trends, which element has the
largest atomic radius?
a) H
b) He
c) Fr
d) Rn
e) Rh
Ions and Ionic Radii:
- cation - anion
- positive charge
- negative charge
- smaller atomic radius
than the uncharged - larger atomic radius
atom than the uncharged
- example:
atom
- Na = 191 - example:
- Na + = 95 - F = 62
- example: - F- = 133
- Li = 156
- Li + = 60 - example:
- Cl = 102
Periodic Trends of Ionic Radii:
- Decreases across the period (from left to
right)
- Increases within groups (from top to
bottom)
Metals & NonMetals
- Metals:
- decreases after it ionizes
- metals lose electrons
- NonMetals:
- increase after it ionizes
- nonmetals gain electrons
Ionization Energy
 Ion
● Atom or molecule in which the total number of electrons is not equal to
the total number of protons, giving the atom a net positive or negative
electrical charge
● Can be created by both chemical and physical means
● All ions are charged: attracted to opposite electric charges, repelled by like
charges, when moving, travel in trajectories that are deflected by a
magnetic field
Trends of Ionization Energy
● The energy that is needed to remove an electron from
an atom is a process called ionization energy.
● Ionization energy generally decreases from top to
bottom within a group, while it increases from left to
right across a period.
● Ionization energy can be helpful when predicting what
ions may be formed.
● It is much easier to remove one electron, but when
you go to remove a second electron the difficulty
involved increases
First Ionization Energy
The amount of energy required to remove one
electron.
For two electrons it is called the second
ionization energy.
For the “S” block these two ionizations are
useful.
Group Trends in Ionization Energy
● Within each group (column): First ionization energy decreases from top to bottom.
o For example, see the noble gases listed at each peak; they are in the same group.
● Within each period (row): FIE increases when moving towards the right-hand side.
o There are some exceptions, evident if we look at the elements from K-Kr.
● This can be explained as the nuclear charge
increases across the period.
○ At the same time, the shielding effect
does not change.
● Shielding effect: average amount of
electron density between one e- and the
nucleus
○ This inhibits the e-’s attraction to the
nucleus.
● Nuclear charge: Relative charge minus
shielding effect constant
○ The higher the nuclear charge is the
less shielding there is.
Visual
Chart
http://www.
angelo.edu/f
aculty/kboud
rea/periodic/
trends_ioniza
tion_energy.h
tm
Previous
Page:
http://www.
vias.org/genc
hem/atomstr
uct_12433_05
.html
 Shielding
• In a multi-electron system, electrons are simultaneously
attracted to the nucleus and repelled by each other
• Outer electrons are shielded from nucleus by the core
electrons
✓ screening or shielding effect
✓ outer electrons do not effectively screen for each other
• The shielding causes the outer electrons to not experience
the full strength of the nuclear charge

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

 Effective Nuclear Charge
• The effective nuclear charge is net positive charge that is
attracting a particular electron
• Z is the nuclear charge, S is the number of electrons in
lower energy levels
✓ electrons in same energy level contribute to screening, but very
little so are not part of the calculation
✓ trend is s > p > d > f

Zeffective = Z − S

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

 Electronegativity
• The ability to gain electrons.
• Generally, decreases from top to bottom
• Generally, increases from left to right.

*Noble Gases

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.
Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.
Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.