When electrons are removed from the outermost shell of a calcium atom, the atom becomes: D. a cation that has a smaller radius than the atom.
An ion can be defined as an atom or molecules (group of atoms) that has either lost or gained one or more of its valence electrons, thereby, making it to have a net positive or negative electrical charge respectively.
Basically, there are two (2) types of ion and these are:
A cation is a positive electrical charge which is formed when the atom of a chemical element losses an electron.
Hence, a cation is formed when an electron is removed from the atom of a chemical element.
Generally, the atomic size of a chemical element would increase when its number of electrons increase, thereby, increasing its atomic radius.
Consequently, the radius of a cation in comparison with the radius of its neutral atom becomes smaller because it losses more electron from the outermost shell of its atom.
In conclusion, when electrons are removed from the outermost shell of a calcium atom, the atom becomes a cation that has a smaller radius than its atom.
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