9 c. Magnesium is the same size as sulfur. The valence electrons in sulfur experience a larger effective nuclear charge than those in magnesium, resulting in a smaller equilibrium distance for the valence electrons in sulfur. The sulfur atom is the smaller of the two. Consider Mg and Ca. The general trend is that atoms size increases down the periodic table.
Calcium is below magnesium in the periodic table.
The valence electrons in calcium occupy the 3s orbital, which is larger than the 2s orbital that the valence electrons in magnesium occupy. The calcium atom is the larger of the two. ConceptTests for Exam 1 1. In each atom of the element. Some NaCl is weighed and used as limiting reactant in a chemical process.