Is the radius of an ion always larger than the atomic radius of the original atom?

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Is the radius of an ion always larger than the atomic radius of the original atom?

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Answer 1 · 2017-01-02T19:30:30

Absolutely not! Consider oxidation reactions of metals........

Explanation:

Consider oxidation reactions of the alkali metals:

$N a (s) \to N a^{+} + e^{-}$ $Na(s) rarr Na^+ + e^-$

We have removed the valence electron of an alkali metal. The ion, the oxidation product is MUCH smaller. TO illustrate the ionic radius of sodium ion in sodium chloride is $1.16 \times 10^{- 10} \cdot m$ $1.16xx10^-10*m$ . The metallic radius of sodium metal is $1.80 \times 10^{- 10} \cdot m$ $1.80xx10^-10*m$ .

(Note that I use $10^{- 10} \cdot m$ $10^-10*m$ units because the $Angstrom$ $"Angstrom"$ is the standard unit for crystallography, tho I cannot find the proper symbol, a capital A with a circle hat.)

Of course reduction of a non-metal to give an anion, will give a larger ionic radius than the atomic radius. Why so?

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Is the radius of an ion always larger than the atomic radius of the original atom?

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