Answered

What can be concluded if an ion of an element is smaller than an atom of the same element?

(1) The ion is negatively charged because it has fewer electrons than the atom.

(2) The ion is negatively charged because it has more electrons than the atom.

(3) The ion is positively charged because it has fewer electrons than the atom.

(4) The ion is positively charged because it has more electrons than the atom.

Verified Answer :

Kalahira

The question is,'what can be concluded if the ion of an element is smaller than the atom of the same element'. The correct option is 'the ion is positively charged because it has fewer electrons than the atom. An atom becomes charged either by donation or accepting electrons. When an atom donate electrons, it becomes positively charged and it has less electrons than its atom. For instance, calcium has 20 electrons, it becomes an ion by donating its two electrovalent electrons, thereby having only 18 electrons left. But when an element accepts electrons, it becomes negatively charged and has more electrons than its atom.

The following conclusion can be made if an ion of an element is smaller than an atom of the same element:

 \(\boxed{\left( 3 \right){\text{ The ion is positively charged because it has fewer electrons than the atom}}{\text{.}}}\)


Further explanation:

Ions are the entities with a net electric charge, be it positive or negative. Since positive and negative charges can be present on the ions, ions are of two types-positively charged and negatively charged ions. The ions formed by loss of electrons develop a positive charge and are called cations. But the ions produced by the gain of electrons acquire a negative charge and are called anions.


Since cations are positively charged ions, these have fewer electrons as compared to the corresponding neutral atom. So these ions experience stronger forces of attraction with the atomic nucleus and are smaller in size in size than the parent atom.


Anions are formed by the addition of electrons to the neutral atom. It has more electrons than the parent atom so it feels electron-electron repulsion due to which its size becomes larger than the parent atom.


So cations are smaller than the parent atom of the same element whereas anions are larger than the parent atoms. Therefore if an ion is smaller than the atom, it is positively charged due to the presence of fewer electrons than the parent atom.


Learn more:

  1. Component of John Dalton’s atomic theory: https://brainly.com/question/2357175
  2. Basis of investigation for the scientists: https://brainly.com/question/158048

Answer details:

Grade: Senior School

Chapter: Atomic structure

Subject: Chemistry


Keywords: ions, cations, anions, loss, gain, electrons, net electric charge, electron-electron repulsion, parent atom, smaller, larger, size, neutral atom, positive charge, negative charge.

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