Question

Cations are smaller and anions are larger in radii than their parent atoms. Justify

Answer 1

Cations are formed by losing one electron from it's outer most orbit.

Since, number of electrons and protons are equal in an atom. So, if a atom loses one electron, then it will have more protons as compared to number of electron. So, the nucleus(contains proton) will attract the outermost shell and the newly formed positively charged atom will have smaller radius as compared to parent atom.

Similarly, anions are formed by gaining one electron. So there will be more repulsion between electrons in outermost orbit which increase their radius.

Hope this will help you:)