Final answer:
The smallest atomic radius given is 120 picometers (pm), and the largest is 265 picometers (pm). Atomic radii decrease across a period from left to right and increase down a group from top to bottom. The largest atomic radius is likely for an alkali metal, while the smallest is for a noble gas.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question at hand involves understanding the periodic trends in atomic radii and identifying which element has the smallest and largest atomic radii. The atomic radius is a measure of the size of an element's atoms, typically the distance from the nucleus to the outer electron shell. Based on the data provided, the smallest atomic radius is 120 picometers (pm), and the largest is 265 picometers (pm).
To visualize the trend of atomic size across the periodic table, imagine a jagged line on a graph with the y-axis representing atomic radius and the x-axis representing atomic number. This line shows peaks at the positions of the alkali metals and valleys at the noble gases. In general, atomic radii decrease from left to right across a period and increase from top to bottom down a group. Therefore, the smallest atoms are found in the upper right corner, while the largest are located in the lower left corner of the periodic table.
The element with the largest atomic radius is often an alkali metal due to its position in the lower left corner of the periodic table, whereas the element with the smallest atomic radius is typically a noble gas located in the upper right corner.