In a size comparison, how does a cation compare to its neutral counterpart?

A cation is smaller than its neutral counterpart due to the loss of one or more electrons during the ionization process. In a neutral atom, the electrons are balanced by an equal number of protons in the nucleus, resulting in a stable electronic configuration. When an atom loses electrons to become a cation, there are fewer negatively charged electrons to repel each other, which allows the remaining electrons to be pulled closer to the positively charged nucleus.

This increased effective nuclear charge per electron leads to a contraction of the electron cloud surrounding the nucleus, resulting in a smaller atomic radius compared to the neutral atom. Additionally, the loss of an electron may also lead to a decrease in electron shielding, further facilitating the attraction of the remaining electrons to the nucleus.

Understanding this process highlights why the formation of cations results in a decrease in size compared to their neutral counterparts.