Periodic Trends Worksheet
1) Arrange the following elements in order of increasing electronegativity: Na, Cl, Mg, F.
2) Explain why fluorine is the most electronegative element.
3) Compare the electronegativities of oxygen, sulfur, and selenium. Explain the trend.
4) Arrange the following in order of increasing first ionization energy: Li, B, Be, C.
5) Explain why the ionization energy of nitrogen is higher than that of oxygen.
6) Predict which element has the higher ionization energy: Mg or Al. Justify your answer.
7) Arrange the following elements in order of decreasing atomic radius: Na, Rb, K, Li.
8) Explain why the atomic radius of chlorine is smaller than that of sodium.
9) Compare the atomic radii of carbon and silicon. Explain the observed trend.
10) Define ionic radius. How does the size of a cation compare with its neutral atom?
11) Arrange the following ions in order of increasing ionic radius: Na⁺, Mg²⁺, F⁻, O²⁻.
12) Compare the ionic radius of Cl⁻ with Cl. Explain the difference.
13) Which has a larger radius: Ca²⁺ or K⁺? Explain your reasoning.
14) Explain why anions are larger than their corresponding neutral atoms.
15) Arrange the following ions in order of decreasing radius: Al³⁺, N³⁻, O²⁻, Mg²⁺.
16) Across Period 2 (Li → Ne), describe the trend for electronegativity, ionization energy, atomic radius,
and ionic radius.
17) Between Na and Cl, which has the higher electronegativity, and which has the larger atomic radius?
Justify your answer.
