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Identify the group of elements listed in order of decreasing size based on atomic measurements.

a) Iodine, bromine, chlorine, zinc
b) Boron, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen
c) Sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium
d) Phosphorus, selenium, iodine, radon

User TimeBenter
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Final answer:

The correct order of elements in descending size is c) Sodium, potassium, rubidium, and cesium, as elements increase in size down a group due to adding electron shells.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find the group of elements listed in order of decreasing size based on atomic measurements, we look for a group where each subsequent element has a smaller atomic radius. Out of the options provided, the correct answer is:

c) Sodium, potassium, rubidium, caesium

This order reflects the general trend in atomic size for elements within the same group of the periodic table. As we move down a group, atomic size increases. This trend is because each element down a group has an additional electron shell compared to the one before it, making the atom larger. Thus, caesium has a larger atomic size than rubidium, which in turn is larger than potassium, and sodium is the smallest among them. This order is in accordance with elements from Group 1: The Alkali Metals, which include lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, caesium, and francium.

User Ferbs
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