Isoelectronic atoms sizes [ENDORSED]

[rkang00]

How would the size of isoelectronic atoms compare? for example which would be bigger: Ne or Na+? Would this be dependent on nuclear charge?

[bonnie_schmitz_1F]

The Na+ atom would be smaller and the Ne atom would bigger because they have the same number of electrons. However, since Na+ has one more proton, it has a tighter hold on its 10 electrons which makes the atom smaller.

[Rachana Jayaraman 1H]

The general rule is that cations are smaller than the noble gas/atom which are smaller than the anions. This is because in cations have more protons in their nucleus, resulting in a stronger attraction that pulls the electrons closer. Anions have fewer protons in the nucleus, so the attraction is weaker and the electrons are not as tightly held by the nucleus.

[AngelaZ 1J]

For isoelectronic atoms, the size would be dependent on the number of protons.