Why do atoms get smaller as you move across a period?

Answer 1

The short answer: the effective nuclear charge increases, which pulls the electrons in closer.
Effective nuclear charge relates the number of protons to the core electrons.
When you move across the periodic table, you add a proton, but the number of core electrons stays the same. Thus the nucleus needs to bring electrons closer in to balance the increasing positive charge. Bringing electrons closer results in a smaller radius.
To test your knowledge of this subject, take two atoms in the same row, such as sulfur and chlorine. Calculate (a) the number of protons, (b) the electron configuration, in noble gas notation (which will tell you the number of core electrons and the number of valence electrons) and (c) the difference between the number of protons and the number of core electrons. The element with the bigger difference is the one with the smaller radius (a bigger difference means a stronger pull on the electrons by the nucleus).
Sorry the answer is kind of long.

Answer 2

The change in the size of an atom across the period depends on the nuclear charge, which is defined as the attraction of the nucleus for the electrons.
As you move across the period, the number of protons in the nucleus increases, so the nuclear charge increases. The electrons are attracted more strongly by the nucleus, hence, atomic radius decreases across the period.

Answer 3

by way of attraction between the electrons and the protons. Electrons do not occupy a single area interior the atom, they are continuously shifting, one thank you to think of of this as they are like a cloud surronding the nucleous, so the detrimental cost is displaced around the full cloud, not purely some remoted factors. The nucleous has a terrific cost and the electrons have a detrimental cost. the explanation why the atom gets smaller then, is using the attraction between the easily charged nucleous and the negatively charged electron cloud. As the two the quantity of electrons and protons will boost, so too does the forces that entice them to a minimum of one yet another (remember, opposite quotes entice).

Answer 4

I think you mean in relation to the nucleus. the number of electrons is similar to the number of Protons except when you get to radioactive material.
When you add in the Neutrons, then the nucleus gets proportionally bigger a lot faster.
eg Carbon (C) has 6 electrons; 6 Protons; and 6 Neutrons. the Atomic weight is Protons and Neutrons added together (C = 12)

Answer 5

The more electrons the greater the attraction to the protons and so it keeps growing smaller and smaller because there is a bigger attraction to the center.