Which of these spheres represents F, which represents Br, and which represents Br-?

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Identify the periodic trend that affects the size of atoms and ions. Generally, atomic size increases down a group and decreases across a period.

Recognize that fluorine (F) is in the second period and bromine (Br) is in the fourth period of the periodic table. Therefore, Br is larger than F.

Understand that anions (negatively charged ions) are larger than their neutral atoms because they gain electrons, which increases electron-electron repulsion and expands the electron cloud.

Compare the sizes of the spheres in the image. The largest sphere represents Br-, the intermediate sphere represents Br, and the smallest sphere represents F.

Assign the spheres based on their relative sizes: the largest sphere is Br-, the intermediate sphere is Br, and the smallest sphere is F.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Atomic Radius

Atomic radius refers to the size of an atom, typically measured from the nucleus to the outer boundary of the surrounding cloud of electrons. In the periodic table, atomic radius generally increases down a group due to the addition of electron shells, while it decreases across a period from left to right due to increased nuclear charge, which pulls electrons closer to the nucleus.

Ionic Radius

Ionic radius is the measure of an atom's ion in a crystal lattice. Cations (positively charged ions) are smaller than their neutral atoms because they lose an electron, reducing electron-electron repulsion and allowing the remaining electrons to be pulled closer to the nucleus. Conversely, anions (negatively charged ions) are larger than their neutral atoms due to the addition of electrons, which increases repulsion among them.

Periodic Trends

Periodic trends are patterns observed in the periodic table that illustrate how certain properties of elements change across periods and down groups. Key trends include atomic radius, ionization energy, and electronegativity. Understanding these trends helps predict the behavior of elements, such as the relative sizes of F, Br, and Br-, which can be inferred from their positions in the periodic table.