Question

In the case of alkali metals:

• A. the cation is less stable than the atom
• B. the cation is smaller than the atom
• C. the cation and the atom have the same size
• D. the cation is larger than the atom

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

the cation is smaller than the atom

Cations are smaller than the respective atoms because when an electron is lost, electron-electron repulsion decreases and thus shielding increases.Therefore the nuclear pull towards the valence electron increases.