To determine the radii of a univalent ion, Pauling gave a method as follows:
i. In an ionic crystal of the type M+X−, cations and anions are in contact with each other. Therefore, the sum of their ionic radius is equal to the interionic distance.
ii. r+M+r−X=cZeff(M+)+cZeff(X−) pm Zeff is the effective nuclear charge Zeff=Z−σ ; where σis the screening constant. For Ne,σ=4.5
∴r+M=cZeff(M+) and r−X=cZeff(X−)
The actual interionic distance in MgO should be: