How would the size of the Cl atom compare to the size of Cl 1-?

Understand the Problem

The question is asking for a comparison between the atomic size of a neutral chlorine atom (Cl) and its anion (Cl^-), which involves understanding concepts related to atomic structure and ionic radii.

Answer

The chloride ion (Cl-) is larger than the chlorine atom (Cl).

The chloride ion (Cl-) is larger than the chlorine atom (Cl) because the addition of an extra electron increases electron-electron repulsion, leading to a larger radius.

Answer for screen readers

The chloride ion (Cl-) is larger than the chlorine atom (Cl) because the addition of an extra electron increases electron-electron repulsion, leading to a larger radius.

More Information

When Cl gains an electron to form Cl-, the added electron experiences repulsion forces within the electron cloud, causing an increase in radius. This is because the electron cloud expands to reduce repulsion, making the ionic radius of Cl- larger than the atomic radius of Cl.

Tips

A common mistake is thinking that more electrons always lead to a smaller size due to higher charges. However, added electrons can increase the repulsion and expand the electron cloud.

AI-generated content may contain errors. Please verify critical information

Thank you for voting!
Use Quizgecko on...
Browser
Browser