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  • Ionic Radius: Understanding Cations and Anions
    Here's the breakdown:

    * Positive ions (cations): These ions are formed when an atom *loses* electrons. Losing electrons reduces the overall negative charge of the electron cloud, making the positive charge of the nucleus more dominant. This results in a smaller ionic radius compared to the neutral atom.

    * Negative ions (anions): These ions are formed when an atom *gains* electrons. Gaining electrons increases the overall negative charge of the electron cloud, leading to greater repulsion among electrons and a larger ionic radius compared to the neutral atom.

    Therefore, the answer is D. None of the above.**

    Only negative ions (anions) are always larger than the neutral atoms from which they formed.

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