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The number of full, or partially filled, electron shells determines the size of an atom. The size of the outermost shell depends on how many protons in the nucleus can 'see' that electron shell to pull it inwards. The larger the number of 'unshielded' protons, the stronger the pull.
When the number of electrons increases the number of filled, or partially filled, shells can also increase. If we move down groups the size of atoms increases, because more shells are filled. If we move across periods, the atomic size decreases, because there is a larger number of 'unshielded protons' on the nucleus to draw the shell inwards.
The definition of atomic size is half the separation of two atoms of the same element. This will depend on how closely and strongly the atoms are bonded.
Radii are metallic radii when it is a metallic bond; covalent radii when the bond is covalent; and when no strong bond is present, and the atoms are 'just touching', it is called a Van der Walls radii. On the whole, metallic radii are smaller than covalent, which are smaller than Van der Walls.
Ionic radii are more complex, as metallic ions have a smaller ionic radius than their related metallic atoms, as they have lost electrons to form their ions. Non-metallic ions are larger than their related atom, as they tend be negative ions, formed by the addition of electrons.
Estimates and measurements of atomic radii can be approached from considerations of volume, by assuming the atoms are spherical and closely packed, in a solid or a cold liquid sample. This allows the a good estimate of how much of that sample volume is a 'void', and how much is an 'atomic' volume. From the volume of a sample, the sample mass, and the Atomic Mass, the number of atoms in the sample can be calculated, and so the volume of each atom. The radius can be worked out from this using the formula for the volume of a sphere.
Other more accurate methods exist, including X-ray crystalograhy, which uses the diffraction pattern from a crystal to determine the distances between atoms.
What else can I help you with?
What is a little bigger then a cell?
a molecule for water. you know, 1 hydrogen 2 oxygen? And if you were wondering smaller... is an atom
Why The bigger the atom have low ionization energy?
it is bigger..so it has more electron in orbit than smaller atom...so it keep simple
Is a chlorine atom or chlorine ion bigger?
A sulfur atom is larger than an oxygen atom.
How much bigger is an atom compared to its nucleus?
The atom is about 10,000 times as big as the nucleus.
What is bigger an atom number or a mass number?
Atomic number = number of protons or electrons (in a neutral atom) Mass number: sum of protons and neutrons The mass number is bigger.
Is the lithium atom bigger than the Cesium atom?
Not at all; the cesium atom is far bigger than the lithium atom.
Which atom is bigger barium or osmium?
The barium atom has a much bigger radius.
What is bigger a neutral atom or a negative atom?
neutral atom
What is a little bigger then a cell?
a molecule for water. you know, 1 hydrogen 2 oxygen? And if you were wondering smaller... is an atom
What is bigger an atom of gold or a plant cell?
the answer ia an atom of gold
Is a polymer bigger then and atom?
yes
Which is a bigger atom chlorine or iodine?
Iodine is a bigger atom than chlorine because it has more electrons and atomic radius.
Why The bigger the atom have low ionization energy?
it is bigger..so it has more electron in orbit than smaller atom...so it keep simple
Which atom is bigger xe or kr?
The atom of xenon (Xe) is larger than the atom of krypton (Kr) because xenon has more electrons and a larger atomic radius.
Is a chlorine atom or chlorine ion bigger?
A sulfur atom is larger than an oxygen atom.
Is a model of a atom the same size as a real atom?
No. A model is a bigger or smaller version of the actual thing, in this case the model is bigger than the real thing.
Is an atom bigger then a molecule?
No atoms are very microscopic.
