Question

Sulfur is to the immediate right of phosphorus in the same row in the periodic table. Which of the following statements compares the radius and number of protons of nitrogen and oxygen atoms? Sulfur has a smaller radius and one more proton than phosphorous. Sulfur has a smaller radius and one proton less than phosphorous. Sulfur has a larger radius and one proton less than phosphorous. Sulfur has a larger radius and one proton more than phosphorous.

Answer 1

The correct answer is that sulfur has a smaller radius and one proton more than phosphorus.

This is because if sulfur is to the immediate right of phosphorus, it must have one more proton due to the fact that the periodic table is arranged by increasing atomic number (number of protons) of its elements.

The atomic radius of elements decreases across a period because the greater number of protons has an increased “pull” on the electrons, pulling them in closer to the nucleus and thus making the atomic radius smaller.

Hope this helps!