415,370 views
9 votes
9 votes
As you travel down a group the atomic radius (decreases/increases). Why?

User Marinna
by
3.0k points

1 Answer

22 votes
22 votes

Answer: Down a group, the number of energy levels (n) increases, so there is a greater distance between the nucleus and the outermost orbital. This results in a larger atomic radius.

User Scott W
by
3.2k points