Question

Can you determine which of two unknown elements has the larger radius if the only known information is that the atomic number of one of the elements is 20 greater than the other? Explain.

Answer 1

Yes, you can determine which one.

Step-by-step explanation:

Hi, there are many factors that can be used to compare the atomic radius of to elements but the most important is the amount of electrons each atom has.

The atomic number represents the amount of protons and electrons (if the element isn't ionized) that the atom has.

The more electrons the atom has, the more energy levels it completes. And each of this levels has a longer radius than the one before it.

So, higher levels completed represent longer atomic radius.

In conclusion, a element with an atomic number 20 greater than the other has 20 more electrons, completed more energy levels and its radius will be longer

Answer 2

Yes you can
You can determine that the element with the atomic number that is 20 greater will be bigger because when an element is bigger, it will have more particles (electrons, protons, and neutrons) which means that the atom will get bigger which will cause it to have a bigger radius