how does one calculate atomic radius?

Answer 1

Well, there really is no way to get a definite answer without intense research, investigation and mathematics.

The size fluxuates and is dependant on many factors, but you can ballpark it. The more protons a nuclues has, the smaller the radius. The more protons mean a more positive nucleus, which will attract the surrounding electrons, bringing them in closer. Also, consider the number of electron shells you have. The more shells, the larger the atom, generally.

Hope this helped.

Answer 2

In general or inorganic chemistry, students are often asked to calculate atomic radii of metals given their unit cell structure (body centered or face centered cubic) and density.

Density = mass / volume
The mass depends on the number of atoms in a unit cell.
The volume depends on the atomic radius. For a given element and packing structure you will always know the mass. Thus if you have either density or atomic radius you can calculate the other.

Answer 3

If this is part of a crystal then you must know the crystalline structure and apply the Pythagorean theorem. See the section on solids and crystalline structure in your text book. Most have a good discussion along with examples of how to determine the atomic radius of an atom in the crystal. NOTE that cubic, face centered cubic and body centered cubic crystals are all that are covered in most gen chem books.
Often atomic radii are found along with information if you google the name of the element. You may also find it on copies of the periodic chart or in reference manuals. CRC handbook of Chemistry and Physics is good but is huge and difficult to navigate for beginners. You may also look in Lange's hand book of Chemistry also. Some textbooks have pictures of atomic and ionic radii in a periodic chart on the flyleaf.

Answer 4

If a neutron star was apprx. 10 km diameter and contained ten to the power of fifty-seven neutrons.
If the star was compressed to three km diameters and had all the reaming space displaced from it.
A mathematician should be able to determine the aprox.diameter of a neutron.

Answer 5

how about if you take the density of a solid element from the atomic table, divide it into grams per mole to get mole per volume. Then multiply atoms per mole to get atoms per volume, then invert to get volume per atom, then use volume equation to get the radius from volume per atom.

Answer 6

One looks it up in a table. Your text, or the CRC Handbook of Chemistry are two good sources.