Which of Na+ and Mg2+ is the smaller ion. Explain your answer. (2 marks)
Mg2+ is the smaller ion. (1 mark) Mg2+ has a larger nuclear charge than Na+ and has the same number of electrons. (1 mark)
Further explaination: Magnesium is further along the period than sodium is which means that the electrostatic attraction between the valence electrons and the nucleus is greater than that of sodium and the relative nuclear charge for a 2+ ion is larger than that of a 1+ ion.
JH
Related Chemistry A Level answers
All answers ▸Explain why the first ionisation energy of strontium is less than the first ionisation energy of calcium
(Essay question) How are cycles important in biology?
Explain how nucleophilic substitution for a haloalkane actually occurs?
What is Ionisation Energy and the three factors that affect it? 2)State and explain the general trend in first ionisation energies for the Period 3 elements.