Which Element Has Atoms With The Largest Atomic Radius

Which Element Has Atoms With The Largest Atomic Radius?

The element with the largest atomic radius is francium (Fr). It is a radioactive element with an atomic number of 87. Francium is located in the alkali metal group of the periodic table, which is known for its large atomic radii.

The atomic radius is a measure of the distance between the nucleus of an atom and its outermost electron. It is typically measured in picometers (pm). The atomic radius of francium is 220 pm.

There are a few factors that contribute to the large atomic radius of francium. First, francium is located in the bottom left corner of the periodic table. This means that it has a large number of electron shells. As the number of electron shells increases, the distance between the nucleus and the outermost electron increases.

Second, francium has a low effective nuclear charge. The effective nuclear charge is the net positive charge that is experienced by the outermost electrons. A lower effective nuclear charge means that the outermost electrons are less strongly attracted to the nucleus. This also contributes to the large atomic radius of francium.

Here are some questions related to which element has atoms with the largest atomic radius:

• Which element has the smallest atomic radius?

The element with the smallest atomic radius is helium (He). It has an atomic radius of 31 pm.

• What is the trend for atomic radius across a period of the periodic table?

The atomic radius decreases across a period of the periodic table. This is because the number of protons in the nucleus increases as you move across a period. The increased number of protons creates a stronger pull on the electrons, which causes the atomic radius to decrease.

• What is the trend for atomic radius down a group of the periodic table?

The atomic radius increases down a group of the periodic table. This is because the number of electron shells increases as you move down a group. The increased number of electron shells creates a greater distance between the nucleus and the outermost electron, which causes the atomic radius to increase.

I hope this article has been helpful. Let me know if you have any other questions.