Final answer:
Rubidium (Rb) has the largest atomic radius among the given elements because it is located further down the periodic table, which means it has more electron shells compared to lithium (Li), xenon (Xe), and neon (Ne). Option D is the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Atomic Radius
In chemistry, the atomic radius is a measure of the size of an atom's electron cloud. It generally decreases across a period from left to right and increases down a group in the periodic table. The size of an atom is influenced by the number of electron shells (more shells result in a larger radius) and the effective nuclear charge experienced by the valence electrons.
Largest Atomic Radius Among Given Elements
Comparing atomic radii among the elements lithium (Li), xenon (Xe), rubidium (Rb), and neon (Ne), we find that rubidium (Rb) has the largest atomic radius. This is because Rb is located further down on the periodic table in group 1, indicating it has more electron shells compared to the others.
Lithium (Li), also in group 1, has fewer electron shells, thereby making its radius smaller than Rb's. Xenon (Xe) is a noble gas and has a smaller atomic radius compared to Rb due to its higher effective nuclear charge. Lastly, neon (Ne), another noble gas, has the smallest atomic radius among the given elements due to its position in the second period of the periodic table and effective nuclear charge.
In conclusion, the element with the largest atomic radius is rubidium (Rb).