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Atomic radius of inert gases
Why is the radius of an inert gas atom so much larger than others in
the same period?
ghodel
Answer: Completely filled electron orbitals, most likely. Since they
are at the extreme right of the period, their outer shells are completely
filled (which makes them inert). Since these orbitals are filled with
electrons, the radius will be larger than an atom without electrons in
an orbital.
Any comments, descriptive chemists?
-Joe Schultz
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