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 why is an argon atom bigger than chlorine atom

 

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The answers given by your friends are correct.

Argon is a noble gas which has a complete octet so it does not form any bond with the other atom of Argon but they remained attached due to Van der Waal's force of attraction which is comparatively weaker than the covalent bond formed between highly  electronegative Cl-Cl atoms. So, the van der wall radii is larger than the covalent radii and so the Ar atoms have larger size than chlorine atoms.

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Argon is a noble gas and does not form a molecule with another Argon atom due to complete octet of the noble gases. Thus, the atomic radii of Argon is actually Van der Waal radii. The van der waal radii is larger than covalent radii formed by Cl atoms to complete their octet. Thus the size of Argon is greater than Chlorine.

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The atomic radii of noble gases are by far the largest in their respective periods. This is due to the reason that noble gases have only Van der Waals radii as it does not form molecules while others have covalent radii. Van der Waal radii are larger than covalent radii. This is the reason for the radius of Argon being larger than Chlorine.

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Argon is a noble gas and does not form a molecule with another Argon atom due to complete octet of the noble gases. Thus, the atomic radii of Argon is actually Van der Waal radii. The van der waal radii is larger than covalent radii formed by Cl atoms to complete their octet. Thus the size of Argon is greater than Chlorine..

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