Periodic Trends Flashcards: Atomic Radius, Ionization Energy & Electronegativity

Review 88 concise cards on atomic and ionic radius, shielding, effective nuclear charge, ionization energy, electron affinity, electronegativity, metallic character, exceptions, and comparisons.

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Periodic Trends Flashcards: Atomic Radius, Ionization Energy & Electronegativity

Study the core periodic trends with 88 independently written English flashcards for high-school and introductory-college chemistry. The deck separates broad patterns from the reasons behind them and uses generally where real configurations create exceptions.

What the cards practice

The sequence covers four useful recall paths: term to definition; table movement to a general property direction; cause to effect through shell number, shielding, distance, and effective nuclear charge; and a concrete pair or isoelectronic set to the expected comparison. Atomic and ionic radius, first and successive ionization energies, electron affinity, electronegativity, metallic character, and selected reactivity links are all included.

The course-level exceptions are deliberately small: Be versus B, Mg versus Al, N versus O, P versus S, and Cl versus F electron affinity. Electron-affinity wording distinguishes a favorable electron gain from the sign convention used by a source. Electronegativity stays tied to bonded atoms, and ionic-radius comparisons state when an isoelectronic rule applies.

Learning order

Definitions and table structure come first. General directions follow, then causal models, ion-size rules, successive-ionization reasoning, limited exceptions, and applied comparisons. Related prompts are spaced apart in a fixed order; the review scheduler handles longer-term interleaving after installation.

Scope

This deck teaches qualitative periodic-trend reasoning. It excludes exact numerical property tables, memorizing values for all 118 elements, advanced transition-metal irregularities, diagonal relationships, melting and boiling trends, broad group trivia, and copied examination or competitor material. It supports chemistry practice but does not replace calculation, laboratory, or full-course problem solving.

Sources and license

Core trends and explanations were checked against OpenStax Chemistry: Atoms First 2e, section 3.5 and its electronegativity discussion in section 4.2. Terminology was cross-checked against the IUPAC Gold Book entries for ionization energy, electron affinity, and electronegativity.

The prompts, answers, examples, organization, metadata, and generated cover were created independently from common chemistry knowledge and original work. No protected cards, textbook prose, source figures, exact property tables, logos, or third-party media were copied.

The Common knowledge · CC0 1.0 label applies only to the original prompts, answers, examples, organization, metadata, and cover, to the extent applicable rights exist. It does not claim ownership of scientific facts or third-party material.

Source review date: August 29, 2026.

Cartes de ce paquet

  1. Carte 1

    Question

    What is a periodic trend?

    Réponse

    A recurring pattern in element properties as atomic number increases across periods and down groups.

  2. Carte 2

    Question

    What does covalent radius measure?

    Réponse

    Half the distance between the nuclei of two identical atoms joined by a covalent bond.

  3. Carte 3

    Question

    What is first ionization energy?

    Réponse

    The minimum energy needed to remove the most loosely bound electron from an isolated gaseous atom in its ground state.

  4. Carte 4

    Question

    What is electronegativity?

    Réponse

    An atom's ability to attract shared electrons toward itself in a chemical bond.

  5. Carte 5

    Question

    What is a period on the periodic table?

    Réponse

    A horizontal row. For main-group elements, moving across a period fills orbitals in the same principal electron shell.

  6. Carte 6

    Question

    What is ionic radius?

    Réponse

    A measure of an ion's size, usually inferred from distances between ions in crystals.

  7. Carte 7

    Question

    What does electron affinity describe?

    Réponse

    The energy change when an electron is added to an isolated gaseous atom to form a gaseous anion.

  8. Carte 8

    Question

    What does metallic character describe?

    Réponse

    How readily an element shows metallic behavior, especially losing valence electrons and forming cations.

  9. Carte 9

    Question

    What is a group on the periodic table?

    Réponse

    A vertical column. Main-group elements in one group usually share a valence-electron pattern and similar chemistry.

  10. Carte 10

    Question

    What is effective nuclear charge?

    Réponse

    The net positive pull an electron feels from the nucleus after shielding and electron–electron repulsion are taken into account.

  11. Carte 11

    Question

    What are successive ionization energies?

    Réponse

    The energies needed to remove electrons one after another from the same atom, then from its increasingly positive ions.

  12. Carte 12

    Question

    How does electronegativity difference relate to bond polarity?

    Réponse

    A larger difference generally produces a more uneven electron distribution and a more polar bond.

  13. Carte 13

    Question

    Why do main-group elements in one group often behave similarly?

    Réponse

    They have the same general number and arrangement of valence electrons, which drive much of their bonding and reactivity.

  14. Carte 14

    Question

    What is electron shielding?

    Réponse

    The reduction in nuclear attraction felt by an electron because other electrons lie between it and the nucleus and repel it.

  15. Carte 15

    Question

    Why does the definition of ionization energy specify a gaseous atom?

    Réponse

    It isolates the atom from bonding and intermolecular effects, so the energy reflects electron removal from that species itself.

  16. Carte 16

    Question

    Where are metals and nonmetals generally found on the periodic table?

    Réponse

    Metals occupy the left and center; nonmetals cluster toward the upper right, with metalloids near the boundary.

  17. Carte 17

    Question

    What changes in the electron arrangement across a main-group period?

    Réponse

    Electrons are added to the same principal shell while the nucleus gains one proton from one element to the next.

  18. Carte 18

    Question

    How does atomic radius generally change from left to right across a period?

    Réponse

    It decreases.

  19. Carte 19

    Question

    How does first ionization energy generally change from left to right across a period?

    Réponse

    It increases, although a few recurring subshell and electron-pairing exceptions interrupt the rise.

  20. Carte 20

    Question

    How does electronegativity generally change from left to right across a period?

    Réponse

    It increases for the elements normally assigned electronegativity values.

  21. Carte 21

    Question

    What changes in the electron arrangement down a main-group group?

    Réponse

    Each step adds a higher principal electron shell while preserving a similar valence-electron pattern.

  22. Carte 22

    Question

    How does atomic radius generally change down a group?

    Réponse

    It increases.

  23. Carte 23

    Question

    How does first ionization energy generally change down a group?

    Réponse

    It decreases.

  24. Carte 24

    Question

    How does electronegativity generally change down a group?

    Réponse

    It decreases.

  25. Carte 25

    Question

    How does effective nuclear charge generally change across a main-group period?

    Réponse

    It increases because nuclear charge rises while added electrons enter the same principal shell and do not fully shield one another.

  26. Carte 26

    Question

    How does a cation's radius compare with its neutral parent atom?

    Réponse

    The cation is smaller.

  27. Carte 27

    Question

    How does electron addition generally change across a period?

    Réponse

    It generally becomes more energetically favorable toward the right, but electron affinity has substantial exceptions and depends on the sign convention used.

  28. Carte 28

    Question

    How does metallic character generally change from left to right across a period?

    Réponse

    It decreases.

  29. Carte 29

    Question

    Why are valence electrons generally farther from the nucleus down a group?

    Réponse

    They occupy shells with higher principal quantum numbers, so the electron cloud extends farther outward.

  30. Carte 30

    Question

    How does an anion's radius compare with its neutral parent atom?

    Réponse

    The anion is larger.

  31. Carte 31

    Question

    How does favorable electron addition generally change down a group?

    Réponse

    It generally becomes less favorable as the added electron enters a larger, more shielded shell, though electron-affinity irregularities are common.

  32. Carte 32

    Question

    How does metallic character generally change down a group?

    Réponse

    It increases.

  33. Carte 33

    Question

    Why does shielding change less than nuclear charge across a main-group period?

    Réponse

    The added electrons enter the same principal shell, so they do not shield one another as effectively as inner-shell electrons do.

  34. Carte 34

    Question

    Which has the larger atomic radius, Li or Na?

    Réponse

    Na. It lies below Li and has an additional occupied electron shell.

  35. Carte 35

    Question

    Which has the larger atomic radius, Na or Mg?

    Réponse

    Na. Atomic radius generally decreases from left to right across Period 3.

  36. Carte 36

    Question

    How does greater electron–nucleus distance affect electrostatic attraction?

    Réponse

    It weakens the attraction, all else being equal.

  37. Carte 37

    Question

    How do successive ionization energies for one element compare?

    Réponse

    Each successive ionization energy is higher than the one before it because an electron is removed from an increasingly positive species.

  38. Carte 38

    Question

    Which has the higher first ionization energy, Li or Na?

    Réponse

    Li. Its valence electron is closer to the nucleus and less shielded.

  39. Carte 39

    Question

    Which has the higher first ionization energy, Na or Mg?

    Réponse

    Mg. Its greater effective nuclear charge holds the valence electrons more tightly.

  40. Carte 40

    Question

    Why does forming a cation usually shrink an atom?

    Réponse

    Electron loss reduces electron–electron repulsion and increases the nuclear pull per remaining electron; losing the outer shell can shrink it sharply.

  41. Carte 41

    Question

    Which element is most electronegative on the Pauling scale?

    Réponse

    Fluorine.

  42. Carte 42

    Question

    Which is more electronegative, Li or Na?

    Réponse

    Li. Electronegativity generally decreases down Group 1.

  43. Carte 43

    Question

    Which is more electronegative, Na or Mg?

    Réponse

    Mg. Electronegativity generally increases across Period 3.

  44. Carte 44

    Question

    What does a large jump between successive ionization energies reveal?

    Réponse

    The next electron would come from a lower, core shell; the number removed before the jump indicates the valence-electron count for a main-group atom.

  45. Carte 45

    Question

    Why is Cl⁻ larger than neutral Cl?

    Réponse

    The added electron increases repulsion within the valence shell while the nuclear charge stays the same.

  46. Carte 46

    Question

    How do you compare the radii of isoelectronic species?

    Réponse

    The species with more protons is smaller because the same number of electrons feels a stronger nuclear attraction.

  47. Carte 47

    Question

    Why does an atom have no single sharp physical radius?

    Réponse

    Its electron cloud has no hard edge, so atomic size depends on a defined measurement such as covalent, metallic, or van der Waals radius.

  48. Carte 48

    Question

    Why are noble-gas electronegativities often omitted in introductory tables?

    Réponse

    Electronegativity describes attraction in a bond, and many noble gases form too few ordinary bonds for a standard value to be useful on common scales.

  49. Carte 49

    Question

    Why does forming an anion usually expand an atom?

    Réponse

    The extra electron increases electron–electron repulsion and lowers the nuclear pull available per electron.

  50. Carte 50

    Question

    Order O²⁻, F⁻, and Ne from largest to smallest radius.

    Réponse

    O²⁻ > F⁻ > Ne. All have 10 electrons, and increasing proton count pulls that electron cloud inward.

  51. Carte 51

    Question

    After which removal does Na show its first large ionization-energy jump?

    Réponse

    After the first electron. Removing one valence electron leaves a stable core, so the second removal reaches that core.

  52. Carte 52

    Question

    Does electronegativity difference create a universal ionic-versus-covalent cutoff?

    Réponse

    No. A larger difference usually means more bond polarity, but bonding lies on a continuum and context matters.

  53. Carte 53

    Question

    How do noble gases generally differ from halogens in electron affinity?

    Réponse

    Adding an electron to a noble gas is generally unfavorable because it must begin a higher-energy shell; halogens usually gain one much more favorably.

  54. Carte 54

    Question

    Which is smaller, Na⁺ or Mg²⁺?

    Réponse

    Mg²⁺. Both have 10 electrons, but Mg²⁺ has one more proton.

  55. Carte 55

    Question

    After which removal does Mg show its first large ionization-energy jump?

    Réponse

    After the second electron. Mg has two valence electrons, so the third removal reaches a core shell.

  56. Carte 56

    Question

    How does electronegativity differ from electron affinity?

    Réponse

    Electronegativity is a relative measure of attraction for shared electrons in a bond; electron affinity is an energy change for adding an electron to an isolated gaseous species.

  57. Carte 57

    Question

    How are atomic radius and first ionization energy generally related?

    Réponse

    A larger radius usually means a lower first ionization energy because the valence electron is farther from the nucleus and easier to remove.

  58. Carte 58

    Question

    Which has the more exothermic first electron affinity, F or Cl?

    Réponse

    Cl. Fluorine's very compact 2p shell creates stronger electron–electron repulsion for the incoming electron, so this pair breaks the simple down-group expectation.

  59. Carte 59

    Question

    Which has the higher first ionization energy, Be or B?

    Réponse

    Be. B loses a higher-energy 2p electron, while Be loses a more penetrating 2s electron from a filled 2s subshell.

  60. Carte 60

    Question

    Why does Group 1 metal reactivity generally increase down the group?

    Réponse

    The valence electron is farther out and more shielded, so its first ionization energy falls and electron loss becomes easier.

  61. Carte 61

    Question

    How are atomic radius and electronegativity generally related?

    Réponse

    Smaller atoms usually attract bonding electrons more strongly, so electronegativity tends to rise as radius falls.

  62. Carte 62

    Question

    Why is Na⁺ much smaller than neutral Na?

    Réponse

    Na loses its entire third-shell valence level, leaving the smaller neon-like electron configuration.

  63. Carte 63

    Question

    Which has the higher first ionization energy, Mg or Al?

    Réponse

    Mg. Al's removed electron is a higher-energy 3p electron, while Mg loses a more penetrating 3s electron from a filled 3s subshell.

  64. Carte 64

    Question

    Why does halogen reactivity generally decrease down Group 17?

    Réponse

    Larger radius and greater shielding weaken attraction for an incoming electron, so oxidizing ability generally falls. Particular reactions still depend on bond energies and conditions.

  65. Carte 65

    Question

    Why do Groups 2 and 15 often interrupt the simple electron-affinity trend?

    Réponse

    Group 2 has a filled s subshell and Group 15 has a half-filled p subshell, so an added electron enters a less favorable arrangement.

  66. Carte 66

    Question

    Can ion charge alone rank two unrelated ionic radii?

    Réponse

    No. Shell number, electron count, proton count, oxidation state, and crystal environment can all matter; the isoelectronic rule needs the same electron count.

  67. Carte 67

    Question

    Which has the higher first ionization energy, N or O?

    Réponse

    N. Its half-filled 2p subshell is relatively stable; O has one paired 2p orbital, and repulsion makes one electron easier to remove.

  68. Carte 68

    Question

    In which direction does nonmetallic character generally increase?

    Réponse

    Up and to the right, opposite the general trend in metallic character.

  69. Carte 69

    Question

    Within the same principal shell, which penetrates closer to the nucleus: an s or p orbital?

    Réponse

    An s orbital. Greater penetration means its electrons are less shielded and usually lower in energy than p electrons in the same shell.

  70. Carte 70

    Question

    How do same-charge ion radii generally change down a group?

    Réponse

    They increase as occupied electron shells are added.

  71. Carte 71

    Question

    Which has the higher first ionization energy, P or S?

    Réponse

    P. Its half-filled 3p subshell is relatively stable; S contains a paired 3p orbital that increases repulsion and eases removal.

  72. Carte 72

    Question

    Why should simple periodic-direction rules be used cautiously for transition metals?

    Réponse

    d-electron filling, shielding, oxidation state, and contraction effects make their property changes less regular than main-group trends.

  73. Carte 73

    Question

    Why do periodic-trend statements usually say “generally”?

    Réponse

    Subshell energies, electron pairing, radius definitions, and element-specific configurations create real exceptions to the broad patterns.

  74. Carte 74

    Question

    Which has the larger atomic radius, K or Br?

    Réponse

    K. Both are in Period 4, and atomic radius generally decreases from left to right.

  75. Carte 75

    Question

    Which has the higher first ionization energy, Mg or Cl?

    Réponse

    Cl. Its valence electrons experience greater effective nuclear charge and are held more tightly.

  76. Carte 76

    Question

    Which is more electronegative, Al or Si?

    Réponse

    Si. Electronegativity generally increases across Period 3.

  77. Carte 77

    Question

    Which has the larger atomic radius, O or F?

    Réponse

    O. Atomic radius generally decreases across Period 2.

  78. Carte 78

    Question

    Which has the higher first ionization energy, K or Br?

    Réponse

    Br. First ionization energy generally increases across Period 4.

  79. Carte 79

    Question

    Which is more electronegative, Mg or Cl?

    Réponse

    Cl. It lies farther right in Period 3.

  80. Carte 80

    Question

    Which has the larger atomic radius, Al or Si?

    Réponse

    Al. Atomic radius generally decreases across Period 3 as effective nuclear charge rises.

  81. Carte 81

    Question

    Which has the higher first ionization energy, O or F?

    Réponse

    F. This pair follows the general increase across Period 2.

  82. Carte 82

    Question

    Which is more electronegative, K or Br?

    Réponse

    Br. Electronegativity generally increases across Period 4.

  83. Carte 83

    Question

    Which has the larger atomic radius, Mg or Cl?

    Réponse

    Mg. Both are in Period 3, and Mg lies farther left.

  84. Carte 84

    Question

    Which has the higher first ionization energy, Al or Si?

    Réponse

    Si. This pair follows the general increase across Period 3.

  85. Carte 85

    Question

    Which is more electronegative, O or F?

    Réponse

    F, the most electronegative element on the Pauling scale.

  86. Carte 86

    Question

    Order Al³⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, Ne, F⁻, and O²⁻ from smallest to largest radius.

    Réponse

    Al³⁺ < Mg²⁺ < Na⁺ < Ne < F⁻ < O²⁻. All have 10 electrons, so radius grows as proton count falls.

  87. Carte 87

    Question

    Why do upper-right nonmetals usually hold valence electrons tightly?

    Réponse

    Their relatively small radii and high effective nuclear charges create strong attraction between the nucleus and valence electrons.

  88. Carte 88

    Question

    Across a main-group period, what shared cause links smaller radius, higher ionization energy, and higher electronegativity?

    Réponse

    Increasing effective nuclear charge pulls the same-shell valence electrons inward and holds them more strongly.

A glowing field of blank periodic-table tiles surrounded by blue and amber abstract atomic forms.

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Periodic Trends Flashcards: Atomic Radius, Ionization Energy & Electronegativity

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