Lithium metal crystallises in a body-centred cubic crystal. If the length of the side of the unit cell of lithium is 351 pm, the atomic radius of lithium will be
- 151.8 pm
- 75.5 pm
- 300.5 pm
- 240.8 pm
Answer
(1) 151.8 pm
Solution
In a bcc unit cell, the atoms touch along the body diagonal.
⇒ 3a = 4r
⇒ r = 34a = 1.732 3514
152 pm
∴ The atomic radius of lithium is about 151.8 pm.
Answer: (1)