Define the following terms: a. (i) Valency (ii) Atomic size

CBSE Class 10 CBSE Class 10 Science
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1

Define the following terms:
a.

  1. Valency
  2. Atomic size.

b. How do the valency and the atomic size of the elements vary while going from left to right along a period in the modern periodic table?

2

(a)
(i) Valency: The combining power or the combining capacity of an atom is called its valency. Valency of an atom is simply equal to the number of electrons gained, lost or shared by an atom to achieve the nearest noble gas configuration.

(ii) Atomic size: Atomic size or atomic radius is the distance between the centre of the nucleus and the outermost shell of an isolated atom.

(b)
Variation in valency: On moving from left to right in the periodic table, valency increases up to 4 and then decreases

  • The electrons present in the last shell determine the valency of a particular element.
  • If the number of valence electrons is less than or equal to 4, valency = number of valence electrons.
  • If the number of valence electrons is more than 4, valency = 8 - number of valence electrons.

Variation in atomic size: Atomic size decreases along a period. This is because, on moving across a period, the number of valence shells remains the same and the electrons increases by one unit. As a result, the nuclear charge increases and thus, the atomic radius decreases.