Question

Why do cations generally have smaller radii than the parent atoms?

Answer 1

cations form when the atoms lose an electron or more and have + valency , so the mass will decrease and the effect of the nuclei on the remaining electrons will be stronger so it attracts them stronger toward the center so the size will decrease .. while in the anions the number of electrons increase so the attraction caused by the nuclei is weaker so the size is larger ... . size of the cation of an element < size of the atom of that element < size of the anion of that element

Answer 2

because a cation is missing an electron and an anion has gained and electron. So the mass of the atom will be different by the mass of an electron.. . But if the gain or loss of an electron compleats the atoms outer valence shell, like F- the size (not mass) will be smaller because compleat valence shells are tighter than incompleat.

Answer 3

Becasue it loses its most outer electron shell. That makes it smaller.

Answer 4

What the????

Answer 5

Because ion size increases from left to right on the periodic table. The atoms are about the same size.