How come as the energy content of the atom increases the relative size of the atom decreases?

Answer 1

Your question is a bit vague, but I am guessing your "size" of an atom refers to the orbital radii of electrons around a given atom. In which case, the answer is:

Electrons move around the atomic nucleus in the closer (inner) shells (orbits) faster than they would in the farther (outer) shells. Faster means more kinetic energy (1/2 mv^2).

There is an experiment of the so-called Zeeman effect to show the higher energies for electrons in the inner shells. What you do is zap some simple atoms (e.g., hydrogen) with heavy doses of magnetism. The magnetism excites the electrons and causes them to move inward from their normal shells.

But those inner shells are not their natural state; so they quickly get rid of that extra energy by throwing off photons (light) and jumping back to their normal (outer) shells. The Zeeman effect is that light, which can be measured via a spectroscope and the energy difference between the inner and outer shells calculated.

Answer 2

Actually it moves in both directions, larger size and smaller size atoms have more potential energy, with iron being at the trough where going either way energy is needed to change into other elements.
Both hydrogen (the lightest) and uranium (one of the heaviest naturally occurring), have some of the highest levels of energy, hydrogen's being released by fusing and uranium's (and plutonium's) by splitting.

Answer 3

I can't be sure but I think it is the other way around ie As the realtive size decreases energy content increases
This is due to the increased force of attraction b/w the nucleus & electrons
I think

Answer 4

As atoms can donate, gain or share electrons ONLY, no protons and neutrons are donated, gained or shared. And electrons have negative charge, if an atom loses an electron, its 1 negative charge decreases. Therefore, more the loss of electrons, more the atom gets +ve charged

Answer 5

because keeping the energy in an atom spread out (such as in outer electron levels), waistes energy. So therefor, if the atom keeps the energy close to it's nucleas (making that relitive size of the atom smaller) it conserves energy.

Answer 6

not so ...

if, by "energy content" you mean something quantifiable as " e = mc^2 ",

then "energy content" increases with the mass of the atom ...

"relative size" without context is rather meaningless, term-wise.

Answer 7

Because the binding energy between electrons increases

Answer 8

Oy - what a problem

Answer 9

lol