Question

Choose the correct order of atomic radii of fluorine and neon (in pm) out of the options given below and justify your answer.

(i) 72, 160

(ii) 160, 160

(iii) 72, 72

(iv) 160, 72

Answer 1

(i) Atomic radius decreases as we move from left to right in a period in the periodic table. Fluorine has the smallest atomic radius. As we move to neon in the same period, the atomic radius increases as it has van der Waals radius and van der Waals radii are bigger than covalent radii.