An ion of sulfur has a smaller atomic radius than a neutral atom of sulfur because it loses an electron when becoming an ion.
True or False?
If you start with neutral S and make a sulfide ion (S^2-) out of it, do you add or lose electrons?
True. When an atom loses an electron and becomes a positive ion (cation), the effective nuclear charge experienced by the remaining electrons increases. This attracts the electrons more strongly, causing a contraction in the electron cloud and a decrease in atomic radius.
True.
An ion of sulfur has a smaller atomic radius compared to a neutral atom of sulfur. This is because an ion forms when an atom gains or loses electrons, which affects the distribution of electrons and the overall size of the atom.
In the case of a sulfur ion, sulfur typically gains two electrons to attain a stable electron configuration. This results in an increase in the number of electrons in the electron cloud surrounding the nucleus. The increased number of electrons causes greater electron-electron repulsion, which ultimately leads to the electrons being distributed over a larger area. As a result, the atomic radius increases when sulfur gains electrons to form a negative ion.
However, in this case, the statement says that the sulfur ion loses an electron when it becomes an ion. This is incorrect. When sulfur loses an electron, it forms a positive ion, and the loss of an electron causes the electron cloud to contract around the nucleus. As a result, the atomic radius of sulfur decreases when it loses an electron to form a positive ion.
Therefore, the statement is false.