Question

Arrange the following elements in order of atomic size, from smallest to largest:

a) Chlorine
b) Sodium
c) Fluorine
d) Barium

Answer 1

Considering the atomic size trend in the periodic table, where atomic radius decreases across a period and increases down a group, the elements chlorine, sodium, fluorine, and barium are arranged from smallest to largest in atomic size as follows: Fluorine, Chlorine, Sodium, Barium.

Step-by-step explanation:

To arrange the elements chlorine (Cl), sodium (Na), fluorine (F), and barium (Ba) in order of atomic size from smallest to largest, we need to consider their positions in the periodic table and understand the atomic size trend.

Atomic size, or atomic radius, generally decreases across a period from left to right and increases down a group. This means that elements on the left side of a period and near the bottom of a group tend to have larger atomic radii.

Using this knowledge:

1. Fluorine (F) is to the right of chlorine (Cl) in the same period, making F smaller than Cl.
2. Sodium (Na) is to the left of chlorine (Cl) in the same period but is a larger element because atomic size increases as you go left in a period.
3. Barium (Ba) is in a period below both sodium and chlorine, so it is larger than both.

Therefore, the elements arranged from smallest to largest atomic size are Fluorine, Chlorine, Sodium, and Barium.