How does atomic radius change as you move across the periodic table?
A) Atomic radius decreases moving from left to right across a period and increases from top to bottom.
B) Atomic radius increases moving left to right across a period and decreases from top to bottom.
C) Smaller nuclear charge lowers energy; more electrons in an orbital lowers energy.
D) Atomic radius increases diagonally across the periodic table.
E) None of the answers is correct.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Atomic radius decreases as you move from left to right across a period due to the increase in nuclear charge, which pulls electrons closer to the nucleus. It increases from top to bottom within a group because each row adds a new electron shell, making the atom larger.

How Does Atomic Radius Change as You Move Across the Periodic