Atomic and ionic size across the periodic table
Grade 10 Science Worksheet - Challenge Me

Circle the best answer, or write your answer on the line.
Lithium's radius is 145 pm and sodium's is 180 pm (Slater). By what percent does radius grow from lithium to sodium, to 0.01%, Ari?
Sodium's radius is 180 pm and potassium's is 220 pm (Slater). By what percent does radius grow from sodium to potassium, to 0.01%, Bo?
Potassium's radius is 220 pm and rubidium's is 235 pm (Slater). By what percent does radius grow from potassium to rubidium, to 0.01%, Esme?
Read this first
Ionic radii in pm (Shannon 1976, six-coordinate) (Shannon 1976)
ion electrons radius (pm) O²⁻ 10 140 F⁻ 10 133 Na⁺ 10 102 Mg²⁺ 10 72 Cl⁻ 18 181 K⁺ 18 138 Using the table, why does size fall from O²⁻ to F⁻ to Na⁺ to Mg²⁺, Jun?
- They each have fewer electrons, step by step
- More protons pull the same 10 electrons
- They lose shells each step
Using the table, which 10-electron ion is largest, Kira?
- O²⁻
- Na⁺
- Mg²⁺
Using the table, K⁺ and Cl⁻ both have 18 electrons. Why is K⁺ smaller, Luz?
- It has more protons
- It has more electrons
- It has fewer shells
Noah says silicon is bigger than sodium because it is further along the row. Agree or disagree?
- Disagree: radius shrinks across
- Agree: atoms grow as you go across a row
- Agree: silicon is a metalloid
Pia says Na⁺ is bigger than a sodium atom because it is charged. Agree or disagree?
- Disagree: it lost its outer shell
- Agree: ions are bigger than atoms
- Agree: charge makes it swell
Which lists potassium, sodium and magnesium from largest to smallest, Ren?
- Potassium, sodium, magnesium
- Magnesium, sodium, potassium
- Sodium, potassium, magnesium
Which is larger, chlorine or iodine, Tala?
- They are equal
- Iodine
- Chlorine