Cation is smaller than its neutral atom ?

Question

Cation is smaller than its neutral atom ?

Answer 1

CATION IS SMALLER THAN NEUTRAL ATOM

IN TH CASE OF CATION, IT CONSISTS OF LESS NUMBER OF  ELECTON(S) WHEN COMPARED TO THAT OF ITS OWN NEUTRAL ATOM. SO THE ELECTRO STATIC FORCE OF ATTRACTION IS HIGHER IN CATIONS.

FROM EXAMPLE LET US CONSIDER A ATOM X

NO. OF ELECTRONS IN X = 11

NO. OF PROTONS IN X = 11

BUT IN THE CASE OF ITS OWN CATION X+

NO. OF ELECTRONS IN X = 10

NO. OF PROTONS IN X = 11

U CAN NOTE THAT IN NEUTRAL ATOM 11 POSITIVE CHARGES (PROTONS) ATTRACTS 11 NEGATIVE CHARGES (ELECTRON).

BUT IN THE CATION 11 POSITIVE CHARGES (PROTONS) ATTRACTS 10 NEGATIVE CHARGES (ELECTRON).

SINCE THE FORCE OF ATTRACTION IS MORE, THE RADIUS OF THE CATION WILL ALSO BE LESSER THAN THE NEUTRAL ATOM.

Answer 2

yes, the size will be smaller .when one or more electron is removed from the atom then force per electron due to protons increases and therefore size decreases.  

Answer 3

Generally cations have lesser number of shells and higher effective nuclear charge and so they are smaller than that of its neutral atom.

Answer 4

Due to fewer shells.

Answer 5

Hi!

Yes, cations are generally smaller in size than their corresponding atoms. Because their are lesser no. of orbitals there. Also the effective charge over the electrons increases as electron no. in atoms decreases (in cation).

Answer 6

yes, because when you form a cation, you remove an electron.  The nuclear charge stays the same, but you just pulled a valence electron off. Since there are less valence electrons, that constant positive charge of the nucleus can pull the electrons closer, decreasing the atomic radius.