Does diameter of a stable atom ever increase or decrease?

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The concept of an atom's "outer diameter" is not applicable in the same way as a solid object, as atoms are defined by probabilistic electron cloud distributions rather than fixed boundaries. The radius of an atom is determined by the likelihood of finding electrons within a certain distance, which can change based on the energy state of the electrons. Electrons can become more loosely bound and occupy higher energy levels when excited, effectively increasing the probability distance. This excitation can occur due to thermal or electromagnetic influences. Therefore, while the electron cloud's distribution can fluctuate, the atom's "diameter" does not have a fixed measurement that changes in a conventional sense.
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in a chunk of a pure element like iron-would the outside diameter of the the last electron shell ever naturally change from picosecond to picosecond?
 
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Technically an atom does not have an "outer diameter" in the same sense that a billiard ball has. usually a "radius" gets defined as the distance within which the electrons will be found some percentage of the time (like 98%).

The idea is to get a picture of the shape" of an atom, remembering that not all the shells are spherical.

So your question hinges on what you want to know for.
Generally electrons are more loosely bound if it is in an excited state (increasing that 98% probability distance)... some electrons promoted to higher energy orbitals. This can happen thermally or electromagnetically.
 
If the material is not at absolute zero (which it can't be) then electrons are constantly moving back and forth between higher levels and the ground state.
 

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