Explain why the atomic radii of the elements decrease across Period 3 from sodium to chlorine

As you go across the period from sodium to chlorine, the number of protons in the nucleus increase.As protons are positively charged, they attract the outer electrons; as the number of protons increase, the attraction is greater and therefore the radius decreases.

EC

Related Chemistry A Level answers

All answers ▸

Write the electronic configuration of the following using the orbital method: 4. N3- 5. Ar 6. Sc3+ 7. Mn2+ 8. Fe3+ 9. V3+


(Chemistry A-level) What is a dative covalent bond?


Thermodynamics with a focus on entropy


What is the trend in ionization energy across period 3 in the periodic table?