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Which element has the largest atomic radius?



Which element has the largest atomic radius? ​-example-1
User Keturah
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2 Answers

9 votes

Final answer:

Cesium (Cs) has the largest atomic radius of all naturally occurring elements, located in the lower left corner of the periodic table, where atomic radii are largest according to the observed trends.

Step-by-step explanation:

The element with the largest atomic radius is typically found in the lower left corner of the periodic table. This trend is due to the atomic radii decreasing across a period from left to right and increasing down a group. Thus, the largest radius can be observed for cesium (Cs), which is located in this corner, signifying the biggest atoms among naturally occurring elements.

For instance, when comparing atomic radii of lithium (Li), rubidium (Rb), nitrogen (N), fluorine (F), and iodine (I), rubidium (Rb) would have a larger atomic radius than lithium (Li), and iodine (I) would have a larger radius than either nitrogen (N) or fluorine (F), based on their positions in the periodic table.

Moreover, atomic radii are often given in picometers (pm), with the atomic radius of hydrogen being 37 pm as an example. When considering cations with the same charge but from different groups, those found lower on the periodic table have larger radii due to an increase in the principal quantum number, n.

User Chobo
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4.0k points
7 votes

Answer:

Ba

Step-by-step explanation:

Atomic radius increases going right to left, and up to down.

So the closest element to the bottom left corner is Ba.

User Kevin Kostlan
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3.2k points