Why is the positive ion always smaller than the corresponding neutral atom?
Why is the positive ion always smaller than the corresponding neutral atom?
Atomic size:
1.Neutral atom: It is the particle which contains the number of protons in the nucleus is equal to the number of electrons in the shells possess the equal positive and negative forces exerted by protons and electrons respectively.
Ex: Na ; Z=11(protons=11, electrons=11)
2.Cation: It is a positively charged particle resulted on removing an electron from the outermost shell of an atom.
Ex: Na ; Z=1, on removing 1 electron, we get 11 protons and 10 electrons.
So, cation is formed.
Reason: In a cation, due to the presence of more protons compared to electrons, nuclear charge is more effective which pulls the electrons close to the nucleus thus, shrinking the size of an atom.
In a neutral atom, since the number of protons and electrons are equal, the nuclear charge is same as that of the electron charge. Hence, the atom does not shrink.
Hence, the positively charged cation has small size compared to its neutral atom.
Atomic size:
1.Neutral atom: It is the particle which contains the number of protons in the nucleus is equal to the number of electrons in the shells possess the equal positive and negative forces exerted by protons and electrons respectively.
Ex: Na ; Z=11(protons=11, electrons=11)
2.Cation: It is a positively charged particle resulted on removing an electron from the outermost shell of an atom.
Ex: Na ; Z=1, on removing 1 electron, we get 11 protons and 10 electrons.
So, cation is formed.
Reason: In a cation, due to the presence of more protons compared to electrons, nuclear charge is more effective which pulls the electrons close to the nucleus thus, shrinking the size of an atom.
In a neutral atom, since the number of protons and electrons are equal, the nuclear charge is same as that of the electron charge. Hence, the atom does not shrink.
Hence, the positively charged cation has small size compared to its neutral atom.
