Atomic Size
Atomic size refers to the distance from the nucleus of an atom to the outermost shell of electrons. It is influenced by the number of electron shells and the effective nuclear charge. In general, atomic size increases down a group in the periodic table due to the addition of electron shells.
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Group 1A Elements
Group 1A, also known as the alkali metals, includes elements like lithium (Li), sodium (Na), potassium (K), rubidium (Rb), cesium (Cs), and francium (Fr). These elements have one electron in their outermost shell, which they readily lose to form positive ions, making them highly reactive and characterized by increasing atomic size down the group.
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Periodic Trends
Periodic trends are patterns observed in the periodic table that describe how certain properties of elements change across periods and down groups. For atomic size, the trend shows that atomic radii increase as you move down a group due to the addition of electron shells, while they generally decrease across a period due to increased nuclear charge pulling electrons closer to the nucleus.
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