Which of the statements about the behaviour of the atom is correct?
Answer Details
The correct statement about the behavior of the atom is that cations are smaller than the parent atom. When an atom loses one or more electrons to form a cation, the number of electrons is less than the number of protons, resulting in a net positive charge. This positive charge attracts the remaining electrons more strongly towards the nucleus, causing the atomic radius to decrease. Therefore, cations are smaller than their parent atoms. Conversely, when an atom gains one or more electrons to form an anion, the negative charge causes the electron cloud to expand, resulting in a larger atomic radius than the parent atom. Hence, the other options are incorrect.