How does the size of an anion compare to its neutral counterpart?

An anion is larger than its neutral counterpart due to the gain of one or more electrons. When an atom gains electrons to become an anion, it experiences an increase in electron-electron repulsion within its electron cloud. This additional repulsion between the negatively charged electrons pushes the electrons farther apart and causes the structure of the electron cloud to expand. As a result, the overall size of the ion increases compared to its neutral form, where the protons in the nucleus exert a stronger pull on the electrons, keeping them closer.

In contrast, a neutral atom has a balanced number of protons and electrons, leading to a more compact structure. When an anion is formed, the introduction of extra electrons disrupts this balance. Therefore, the correct understanding of the relationship between anions and their neutral counterparts is that anions are larger than their neutral species.