Compare the radius of a positive ion to the radius of its neutral atom.
They dont metion this on my book, i've been looking for 30 min.
Also, compare the radius of a negative ion to the radius of its neutral atom.
2006-11-13 13:18:00 · 5 answers · asked by Ballerina 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
ahh i get it. Thanks for answering, thank so much
2006-11-13 13:26:54 · update #1
The positive ion is generally smaller, and the negative ion generally larger. Atoms and their ions differ only in the outer electron shell, so the Coulombic attraction to the nucleus is the same, and equivalent to a point charge at the center of the nucleus with the net charge of the nucleus and all inner electron shells. But add an electron to the outer shell, and the new electron interacts with the other electrons already in the outer shell, by repulsion.
Negative ions for column VII of the periodic table have a much larger ionic radius than the neutral atom, since the added electron is the first electron in a new shell.
2006-11-13 13:58:01 · answer #1 · answered by Frank N 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The positive Ion will be smaller than the neutral, and the negative Ion will be larger.
This is because most of the volume of an atom is found in the area around the nucleus where the electrons reside; the more electrons an atom has the greater the volume. And to get a positive Ion the atom must lose an electron, and to get a negative Ion the atom must gain one.
2006-11-13 21:22:09 · answer #2 · answered by SomeGuy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The shared charge between the nucleus and the number of electrons will also effect the radius of and ion. The more electrons (a negative ion) the less each electron 'feels' the positive charge of the nucleus. The less electrons (positive ion) the more each electron will 'feel' the charge of the nucleus.
This is because electrons have a negative charge and the nucleus contains protons which have a positive charge. It is easier to think of them as magnets.
2006-11-13 21:29:50 · answer #3 · answered by yesmynameismud 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The best way to describe it is by analogy:
If an ion is positively charged it will be pulling its electrons inward, making it smaller than the neutral atom.
Conversely, an ion that is negatively charged will be bigger than its counterpart because it is drawing additional electrons to itself and placing them in the outer orbits.
Taking table salt as an example, sodium (Na+) ions are small and chloride (Cl-) ions are large.
2006-11-13 21:25:28 · answer #4 · answered by anon 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm i learned this hmm dont know
2006-11-13 21:32:36 · answer #5 · answered by :) 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋