How does density of an element correlate to atomic size down a group on the periodic table?
Sunday, October 18th, 2009How does density of an element correlate to atomic size down a group on the periodic table?
Can someone please help me ? I am struggling with this. Thanks to all. All help is grealty appreciated. ![]()
Okay, as you move down a group on the periodic table, the atomic radius (basically the same as atomic size) increases due to more mass and volume of the element. As you move down a group, there will be more protons and neutrons in the nucleus, and additional electron clouds will be added. This relates to density of an atom because of the additional electrons shielding the valence electron from the positively charged nucleus core. For example, if you have an element in group 2, meaning there are 2 electrons in the valence shell, it depends on how down the element is in the group for the atomic size and density to be determined. The farther down the element is, the more neutrons and protons there are, meaning the atomic size increases. However, because there are more electron clouds picked up, the 2 valence electrons the element has (which it always has, as long as it exists in group 2) feel less of a pull to the nucleus, because of more shielding electrons in between the valence electrons and the positive nucleus. Because there is less pull of the valence electrons felt, the entire atom expands outward (decreasing the density)
To sum up, although the atomic size of an element increases farther down a group of the periodic table, the density decreases due to the atom expanding outward, less inward pull.