Answer
There are 2 differences between a nonbonding atomic radius and a bonding atomic radius:
1) A nonbonding atomic radius is half the distance between 2 nuclei of 2 nonbonding atoms when they come closest to each other, while a bonding atomic radius is half the distance between 2 nuclei of 2 bonding atoms in a compound.
2) A bonding atomic radius is smaller than a nonbonding atomic radius.
Work Step by Step
The differences between a nonbonding atomic radius and bonding atomic radius:
1) A nonbonding atomic radius is half the distance between 2 nuclei of 2 nonbonding atoms when they come closest to each other, while a bonding atomic radius is half the distance between 2 nuclei of 2 bonding atoms in a compound.
The name has said it all. Nonbonding atomic radius is measured by the distance between 2 nonbonding atoms when they come closest to each other, and bonding atomic radius is measured from the bonding distance between 2 atoms in a compound.
2) A bonding atomic radius is smaller than a nonbonding atomic radius.
The attraction between 2 atoms in a compound draws them closer to each other so that the bond can be maintained. At the same time, when 2 atoms that do not have enough attraction to create a bond approach each other, the electron-electron repulsion would soon push them further from each other.
Therefore, the distance between 2 bonding atoms is smmaler than that between 2 nonbonding atoms, which is why a bonding atomic radius is smaller than a nonbonding atomic radius.
