In: Chemistry
Explain why atomic radius decreases as we move to the right across a row for main-group elements but not for transition elements?
The atomic radius of the main-group elements decreases as we move from left to right in across a row because as we move from left to right in a period atomic number of the elements increase. All the electrons are added to the same shell. However, at the same time, protons are being added to the nucleus, making it more positively charged. The effect of increases in protons in the nucleus is more than the effect of increase in electrons. Thus the nucleus attracts the electrons more strongly and the outer shell comes closer to the nucleus. As a result, the atomic radius decreases.
On the other hand, in transition elements the size is determined by the outer s electrons. But as the number of protons increases, electrons in the d orbital also increases. Tne increase in number of electrons in d orbital provides more screening for the outer s electrons. This more or less screening of d electrons causes a variation in the atomic radius of the transition elements across a row.