Zeff
Variation across Period
Variation down Group
100

Effective nuclear charge

What is Zeff?

100

Decrease in size

What happens to atoms along a period?

100

K > Na > Li

Arrange the first three elements of Group 1 in decreasing order of atomic size

200

Atomic Number (Z) - Shielding Constant (S)

How can Zeff be calculated?

200

An increase

What happens to the nuclear charges of atoms along a period?

200

Increase in number

What happens to shells of atoms down a group?

300

For a shielding constant of 10, 7

What is the shielding constant of chlorine?

300

Noble Gases

Which group of the Modern Periodic Table is an exception to the rule of atomic size across a period?

300

Increase in size

What happens to atoms down a group?

400

For a shielding constant of 1.7, 1.3

What is the Zeff of lithium?

400

Electrons are pulled closer to the nucleus

Why does atomic size decrease across a period?

400

New shells are added

Why does atomic size increase down a group?

500

for a shielding constant of 3.45, 4.55

What is the Zeff of oxygen?

500

Strong inter-electronic repulsion in the valence shell

Why are noble gases an exception to the rule of atomic size across a period?

500

Addition of shells counteracts nuclear charge

Why doesn't atomic size decrease down a group?

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