Where is the largest atomic radius located on the periodic table?

Where is the largest atomic radius located on the periodic table?

• A. Top-right
• B. Top-left
• C. Bottom-left
• D. Bottom-right

Answer: (C)

The biggest atomic radius occurs where there are many electron shells and the outer electrons feel a relatively weak pull from the nucleus. Atomic radius grows as you go down a group because each new period adds a shell, pushing outer electrons farther out. It shrinks as you move across a period from left to right because the increasing number of protons raises the effective nuclear charge, pulling outer electrons closer. So the bottom-left corner is where you have many shells plus the least tightening from the nucleus compared to other regions, giving the largest radius. The top-right corner has the smallest radii due to few shells and a strong nuclear pull.

The biggest atomic radius occurs where there are many electron shells and the outer electrons feel a relatively weak pull from the nucleus. Atomic radius grows as you go down a group because each new period adds a shell, pushing outer electrons farther out. It shrinks as you move across a period from left to right because the increasing number of protons raises the effective nuclear charge, pulling outer electrons closer. So the bottom-left corner is where you have many shells plus the least tightening from the nucleus compared to other regions, giving the largest radius. The top-right corner has the smallest radii due to few shells and a strong nuclear pull.