Van der Waals radius

The van der Waals radius, r_w, o an atom is the radius o an eemaginary haurd sphere representin the distance o closest approach for anither atom. It is named efter Johannes Diderik van der Waals, winner o the 1910 Nobel Prize in Physics, as he wis the first tae recognise that atoms war nae simply pynts an tae demonstrate the physical consequences o thair size throu the van der Waals equation o state.

van der Waals radii

Element	radius (Å)
Hydrogen	1.2 (1.09)[1]
Carbon	1.7
Nitrogen	1.55
Oxygen	1.52
Fluorine	1.47
Phosphorus	1.8
Sulfur	1.8
Chlorine	1.75
Copper	1.4
Van der Waals radii taken frae Bondi's compilation (1964).[2] Values frae ither soorces mey differ signeeficantly (see text)