The relative sizes of atoms

The relative sizes of the neutral from hydrogen to xenon are discussed in terms of several properties based on the density distribution. Of the various indices of atomic size considered, a density contour approach is shown to be most consistent with the periodic behaviour of chemical and physical properties and to allow satisfactorily for the arbitrariness inherent in any theoretical approach to atomic dimensions. By means of an empirical scaling procedure, the theoretical radii are scaled to the range of values common to empirical radii.