In the periodic table, what is the property that decreases along the periodic and increases down the group?
Answer Details
The property that decreases along the periodic table and increases down the group is the atomic radius. The atomic radius is the distance between the nucleus and the outermost electrons of an atom. As we move from left to right across a period, the number of protons and electrons increases, and the size of the atom decreases due to the stronger attraction between the positively charged nucleus and the negatively charged electrons. As we move down a group, the number of energy levels increases, resulting in a larger size of the atom. Therefore, the atomic radius decreases along the periodic table and increases down the group.