Question

How does the following property vary on moving down the group 16?

Atomic radii

Answer 1

1. Atomic radii increase as we move down the group 16 elements.
2. This increase happens because a new electron shell is added at each successive element down the group.
3. Due to the addition of shells, the outermost electrons are farther from the nucleus, making the atom larger.

Hence, the size of atoms increases, leading to a rise in atomic radii from oxygen to polonium.