12.7k views
5 votes
When the atoms: Sr, Rb, Mg, and Na are arranged in order of increasing size, what is the correct order?

A. Mg<Na<Sr<Rb
B. Sr<Mg<Na<Rb

User Fitzbutz
by
7.7k points

2 Answers

2 votes

Final answer:

Considering the periodic trends, the atoms Sr, Rb, Mg, and Na are arranged in order of increasing atomic size as Mg < Na < Sr < Rb.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question asks to arrange the atoms Sr, Rb, Mg, and Na in order of increasing atomic size. To correctly arrange them, we need to understand the trend in atomic radii on the periodic table. Atomic radii increase as we move down a group and decrease as we move from left to right across a period. Keeping this in mind and looking at the periodic table, we can conclude the order of atoms from smallest to largest is: Mg < Na < Sr < Rb. Magnesium (Mg) is small because it is to the right of sodium (Na) in the same period. Sodium is smaller than strontium (Sr) because Sr is located further down the same group. Lastly, rubidium (Rb), which is in the same group but one period below Sr, is the largest among them.

User FlimFlam Vir
by
6.8k points
4 votes
The answer would be A

Sodium is smaller than magnesium
These two are smaller than Strontium
Strontium is smaller than Rubidium
User Jean Marois
by
7.0k points