Explain why are cations smaller and anions larger in radii than their parent atoms?

Question: Explain why are cations smaller and anions larger in radii than their parent atoms?

Cations are formed when an atom loses one or more electrons, resulting in a positively charged ion. Anions, on the other hand, are formed when an atom gains one or more electrons, resulting in a negatively charged ion. The process of losing or gaining electrons affects the size of the ion compared to the parent atom.

When an atom loses one or more electrons to become a cation, the number of electrons in the outermost energy level decreases, resulting in a decrease in the repulsion between electrons in that energy level. As a result, the remaining electrons are pulled closer to the nucleus, reducing the size of the ion. The decrease in the size of the ion is more significant for cations that have lost several electrons because there are fewer electrons to balance the positive charge of the nucleus.

On the other hand, when an atom gains one or more electrons to become an anion, the number of electrons in the outermost energy level increases, resulting in an increase in the repulsion between electrons in that energy level. This increase in repulsion causes the electrons to move away from each other, leading to an increase in the size of the ion compared to the parent atom.

Therefore, cations are smaller than their parent atoms because they have lost one or more electrons and the remaining electrons are pulled closer to the nucleus. Conversely, anions are larger than their parent atoms because they have gained one or more electrons, leading to an increase in the repulsion between electrons in the outermost energy level, which causes the electrons to move further apart, increasing the size of the ion.

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