Which of the following atoms is the smallest?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Atoms within a given period (horizontal row on the periodic table) have the same number of electron shells, so the size of the atom is determined by the number of protons in the nucleus. As you move from left to right across a period, the number of protons (and therefore the attractive force on the electrons) increases, causing the atoms to become smaller. Therefore, the smallest atom in this list is the noble gas neon (Ne) which is located on the far right of the period.

Which of the Following Atoms Is the Smallest