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 σ is the screening constant.
For Ne,σ=4.5
∴r+M=cZeff(M+) and r−X=CZeff(X−)
In NaF crystal,r+Na+r−F=230 pm therefore, the radius of F− is