How would the size of the K atom compare to the size of K 1+?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking for a comparison of the atomic size of the potassium (K) atom with its ionized form, K 1+. It implies an understanding of atomic structure and ionization effects on atomic size.
Answer
K+ is smaller than K.
The final answer is that the K+ ion is smaller in size compared to the K atom.
Answer for screen readers
The final answer is that the K+ ion is smaller in size compared to the K atom.
More Information
A K atom becomes a K+ ion by losing its outermost electron, which reduces its electron cloud size and increases the effective nuclear charge, pulling the electrons closer to the nucleus.
Tips
A common mistake is to think that the loss of an electron might increase the size due to repulsion effects among remaining electrons.
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