Question

In the case of the alkali metals
(a) The cation is less stable than the atom
(b) The cation is smaller than the atom
(c) The cation and the atom have about the
same size
(d) The cation is larger than the atom

Answer 1

Answer:

(b) The cation is smaller than the atom

Answer 2

(b) The cation is smaller than the atom

Explanation:

Cations are smaller than the respective atoms because when an electron is lost, nuclear charge increases and electron-electron repulsion decreases. So the shielding increases. Therefore, the nuclear pull towards the valence electron increases, resulting in reduced atomic radii.

Option B is the answer.