One last question I need help with before I finish this physics work book :) Thanks?!1
2 Answers
Most of the space you are referring to when you say "same size" is empty space between the nucleus and the cloud of electrons.
There are two principle effects you need to appreciate to answer this.
Explanation:
Firstly, as the atomic number (no. of protons) increases so does the electrostatic attraction on the shells of electrons, drawing them inward.
Secondly, a competing effect - the inner shells ‘shield’ the nucleus to some degree so the outer shells ‘bulge’ outwards more.
The first effect is dominant, particularly given how the questioner has phrased their question!
There is a previous answer to a similar question here: https://socratic.org/questions/what-factor-determines-the-atomic-size-of-an-atom-of-an-element?source=search
This may help too, (though the diagram may not be to scale): https://chem.libretexts.org/Textbook_Maps/Introductory_Chemistry_Textbook_Maps/Map%3A_Introductory_Chemistry_(Tro)/09%3A_Electrons_in_Atoms_and_the_Periodic_Table/9.9%3A_Periodic_Trends%3A_Atomic_Size%2C_Ionization_Energy%2C_and_Metallic_Character
