Why is sodium cation is smaller than the parent atom Na.

1.	Why is sodium cation is smaller than the parent atom Na.
Answer» NA+ is SMALLER than Na atom because:Na+ is smaller than Na atom because:Sodium is a Group 1 element, so its only ionic STATE is Na+. CATIONS of a given element have a smaller radius than the neutral atom so that Na+ will decrease in size compared with the Na atom. Sodium atoms and sodium ions have the same NUMBER of protons.

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