Question

Explain why cations arensmaller and anions are lager in radii than their parent atom?

Answer 1

✔️Cations are always smaller than their parent atoms this is because they have lesser electrons, while theirnuclear charge remains the same.

✔️The remaining electrons are, therefore held more tightly by the protons in the nucleus and thus their radii.aresmaller than the parent atoms.


✔️This is opposite in case of anions.

Answer 2

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◆The ionic radius of a cation is always smaller than the parent atom because the loss of one or more electrons increases the effective nuclear charge. As a result, the force of attraction of nucleus for the electrons increases and hence the ionic radii decrease. In contrast, the ionic radius of an anion is always larger than its parent atom because the addition of one or more electrons decreases the effective nuclear charge. As a result, the force of attraction of the nucleus for the electrons decreases and hence the ionic radii increase.