Explain why the size of sodium ion is lower than sodium metal.

1.	Explain why the size of sodium ion is lower than sodium metal.
Answer» The Na+ ion is SIGNIFICANTLY SMALLER than the neutral Na atom because the 3S1 electron has been removed to GIVE a closed shell with n = 2. The Na− ion is larger than the parent Na atom because the additional electron PRODUCES a 3s2 valence electron configuration, while the nuclear charge remains the same.

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