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View Full Version : What is the effect of centrifugal force on atomic radius


ahmedt92
Aug 30, 2009, 02:04 PM
When the centrifugal force increase in a group in the periodic table by increasing the atomic number of elements in this group which causes the appearance of another energy level which increase the centrifugal force, does this affect thr radius of the atom by increasing??

Unknown008
Sep 7, 2009, 11:46 AM
I can't make head or tail of what you are asking...

1. Use short simple sentences.
2. You perhaps don't know, but centrifugal force is an imaginary force. In fact, the force is centripetal.

When you go from Na to Cl, that is along the period, the atomic radius decreases. That's because the electrostatic attraction between the nucleus and the electrons increases.

When you go down a group, for example from Li to Fr, the atomic radius increases. That's because another factor comes into effect. That is shielding effect due to the inner electrons.

Did that help?