What is the relative size of the radius of a positive ion to its neutral atom?

1 Answer
anor277
Jan 22, 2017

Well, in ionizing an atom, you are knocking off 1 or more valence electrons........

Explanation:

#M + Delta rarr M^(+) + e^-#

And given the definition of atomic radius, the radius of an isolated atom is defined by its electronic radius, the ionic radius should be vastly reduced with respect to the atomic radius.

But as chemists, as physical scientists, we should take a look at the numbers, i.e. consider quantitative data.

See here:

https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.M2b6731799cb599131ff8c1d2e967ff3bo0&pid=15.1&P=0&w=229&h=172

The ionic radius of the metal ion is dwarfed by the radius of the parent metal ion. On the other hand, the ionic radius of the non-metal, which is REDUCED to give the ion, dwarfs that of the parent non-metal atom. Measurements are given in #"picometres"# #=# #10^-12*m#.

Is this consistent with our argument?

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