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Chemistry Forums for Students => Undergraduate General Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: Zeta.Bit on October 03, 2008, 12:47:50 AM

Title: Concerning Ionic Radii
Post by: Zeta.Bit on October 03, 2008, 12:47:50 AM

Hello! I have a question about ionic radii. I believe that generally speaking, when an atom loses/gains an electron, its atomic (or rather ionic) radius will shrink/expand (respectively). So I was just wondering, is Cl+ (the cation for Cl) larger than F-? Searching around on the net has given me an idea that Cl's atomic radius alone is already smaller than F-'s ionic radius, thus wouldn't it be according to trend if Cl+ had a smaller radius than F-? Or are there exceptions I'm missing? (I couldn't find the ionic radius for Cl+)

Sources for ionic radii:

http://boomeria.org/chemlectures/textass2/table10-9.jpg

http://library.tedankara.k12.tr/chemistry/vol2/atomic-ionic%20radii/h17.jpg

Title: Re: Concerning Ionic Radii
Post by: AWK on October 03, 2008, 12:56:51 AM

Cl+ still holds 3p⁶ electrons where F- none.

Title: Re: Concerning Ionic Radii
Post by: Zeta.Bit on October 03, 2008, 02:37:29 AM

Wait, but then why would the atomic radii for Cl (ground state) be smaller than F- (anion)?

Sorry, I just don't really understand this! Thanks in advance. :D

Title: Re: Concerning Ionic Radii
Post by: AWK on October 03, 2008, 04:55:41 AM

Probably there is no Cl+ ionic compound and its radius can be only estimated.
Compare trends between known ionic or covalent radii, not the mixed ones.