Chapter 8, Problem 8.55QE

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

Whether the atom with electron configuration $1s^{2}2s^{2}2p^{6}3s^{2}3p^5$ or $1s^{2}2s^{2}2p^{6}3s^{2}3p^3$ is larger has to be determined.

Concept Introduction:

Atomic size is half of the distance between the adjacent atoms in the molecule. Since the electron cloud has no fixed boundary so the size of the atom is measured with high difficulty.