0
Why are cation always smaller than the atoms from which they are formed?
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Cations are positive ions formed by the loss of electrons. As cations have less number of electrons, the effective nuclear charge increases and as such,the remaining electrons are more tightly bound by the nucleus and there is a reduction in size. In most of the cases, the parent atom loses all the valence electrons in order to form a cation leading to the reduction of one shell(the valence shell).
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoCations are missing all their electrons from the outer most shell (the valence shell)
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
How are the smaller atoms formed?
the bigger atoms exploded making much smaller ones
What is the different and what is the same between an atom and an element?
Atom is neutral while cation is positively charged so cations have less electrons than corresponding atoms, another difference is that cations are always smaller in size as compare to their respective atoms.
How does the size of a cation compare with the size of the neutral atom from which it is formed?
An ion is an atom that carries a charge because it has more or less electrons than its neutral form. An electron weighs less than 0.06% of a proton and doesn't take up any real space, therefore an ion is not different in size than its neutral atom.
How does a cation form?
Cations form when atoms lose electrons, they gain a positive charge as a result.
There are 3 atoms of helium below Which atom forms a cation?
Helium does not form cation
How does the size change when an atom forms a cation and when an atom forms an anion?
A metal atom is smaller than the cation formed from it, because the electron(s) lost from a metal atom to form its cations are from the outermost electron shell or energy level of the atom. These electrons increase the size of the atom compared with the cation.
What is formed when atoms lose electrons?
A cation, which is a positively charged ion, is formed when an atom loses electrons.
How are the smaller atoms formed?
the bigger atoms exploded making much smaller ones
Which atoms are found in nitrates?
Nitrates are ionic compounds that are formed with a cation (a positive ion) which is typically a metallic element with the polyatomic (many atom) ion nitrate (NO3). Therefore, nitrates always have 1 nitrogen atom and three oxygen atoms in addition to what ever atoms are in the cation to which it is bonded. An example would be potassium nitrate (KNO3) or silver nitrate (AgNO3)
What is the different and what is the same between an atom and an element?
Atom is neutral while cation is positively charged so cations have less electrons than corresponding atoms, another difference is that cations are always smaller in size as compare to their respective atoms.
How does the size of a cation compare with the size of the neutral atom from which it is formed?
An ion is an atom that carries a charge because it has more or less electrons than its neutral form. An electron weighs less than 0.06% of a proton and doesn't take up any real space, therefore an ion is not different in size than its neutral atom.
How does a cation form?
Cations form when atoms lose electrons, they gain a positive charge as a result.
Which best explains why cations are smaller than atoms from which they are formed?
A cation has had electrons removed. So, although cations and their parent atoms have the same number of protons in the nucleus they have a different number (lower) of electrons. This means the same number of protons pulls the smaller number of electrons closer to the nucleus and so the remaining electrons are more tightly bound by the nucleus and hence the reduction in size.
Size of cation is smaller than its neutral atom?
Yes, the size of a cation is smaller than it's neutral atom. This is so because cations have a low number of shells and hence a high effective nuclear charge which causes them to be smaller in size then their neutral atoms.
How do the sizes of cations and anions relate to the atoms they form from?
Cations are formed when atoms lose electrons and hence are smaller in size than the corresponding atoms. Anions are formed when atoms gain electrons and hence are larger in size than the corresponding atoms.
What atoms forms the cation in the compound rubidium oxide?
Rubidium will form cation: Rb+
There are 3 atoms of helium below Which atom forms a cation?
Helium does not form cation
