MCQEasyJEE 2025Trends in Atomic Radius & Ionisation Energy

JEE Chemistry 2025 Question with Solution

The incorrect decreasing order of atomic radii is:

  • A

    Mg>Al>C>O\text{Mg} > \text{Al} > \text{C} > \text{O}

  • B

    Al>B>N>F\text{Al} > \text{B} > \text{N} > \text{F}

  • C

    Be>Mg>Al>Si\text{Be} > \text{Mg} > \text{Al} > \text{Si}

  • D

    Si>P>Cl>F\text{Si} > \text{P} > \text{Cl} > \text{F}

Answer

Correct answer:C

Step-by-step solution

Standard Method

Given: We need to identify the incorrect decreasing order of atomic radii from the given options.

Find: Which option does not follow periodic trends.

Atomic radius generally decreases across a period from left to right and increases down a group.

For option C:

Be>Mg>Al>Si\text{Be} > \text{Mg} > \text{Al} > \text{Si}

But Be and Mg are in the same group, and atomic radius increases down the group, so:

Mg>Be\text{Mg} > \text{Be}

Also, within Period 33:

Mg>Al>Si\text{Mg} > \text{Al} > \text{Si}

Therefore, the correct decreasing order among these four elements should be:

Mg>Be>Al>Si\text{Mg} > \text{Be} > \text{Al} > \text{Si}

Hence,

Be>Mg>Al>Si\text{Be} > \text{Mg} > \text{Al} > \text{Si}

is the incorrect order.

Therefore, the correct option is C.

Periodic Trend Analysis

Given: The options list decreasing orders of atomic radii.

Find: The order that is incorrect.

Use these periodic trends:

  1. Across a period, atomic radius decreases.
  2. Down a group, atomic radius increases.

Check the decisive comparison in option C:

  • Be is in Group 22, Period 22.
  • Mg is in Group 22, Period 33.

Since Mg lies below Be in the same group:

Mg>Be\text{Mg} > \text{Be}

Now in Period 33:

Mg>Al>Si\text{Mg} > \text{Al} > \text{Si}

So the proper decreasing order should be:

Mg>Be>Al>Si\text{Mg} > \text{Be} > \text{Al} > \text{Si}

Thus the listed order

Be>Mg>Al>Si\text{Be} > \text{Mg} > \text{Al} > \text{Si}

reverses the first comparison and is therefore incorrect.

The solution contains contradictory text in one section, but the detailed working shows that the incorrect order is option C.

Therefore, the correct option is C.

Common mistakes

  • Students may assume atomic radius always decreases from top to bottom. That is wrong because radius actually increases down a group due to addition of new shells. Always compare position in the periodic table before ordering elements.

  • Students may check only the Period 33 trend Mg>Al>Si\text{Mg} > \text{Al} > \text{Si} and ignore the comparison between Be and Mg. That is incomplete because the incorrectness of option C comes from the same-group comparison Mg > Be.

  • Students may get confused by mixed comparisons across periods and groups. This is wrong because a single left-to-right rule is not enough for all elements together. First compare same-group elements, then compare same-period elements where applicable.

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