Chemistry 12th Edition

Published by McGraw-Hill Education
ISBN 10: 0078021510
ISBN 13: 978-0-07802-151-0

Chapter 2 - Atoms, Molecules, and Ions - Questions & Problems - Page 74: 2.117

Answer

$ Li^{+} \lt Li \lt Li^{-} $

Work Step by Step

In $Li$, 3 electrons are effectively held by 3 protons in the nucleus, so net attraction per electron is 1. In $ Li^{+}$, 2 electrons are more effectively held by 3 protons in the nucleus, so net attraction per electron is $ \gt 1$. Thus, it's size is less than $Li$. But for $ Li^{-}$, 4 electrons are more effectively held by 3 protons in the nucleus, so net attraction per electron is $ \lt 1$. Thus it's size is greater than $Li$. Thus, the size of a cation is way less than its parent atom, while the size of an anion is greater than its parent atom. Thus the order is, $ Li^{+} \lt Li \lt Li^{-} $
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