Which has a larger radius, Mg or Mg+2? Explain why. Thanks ! I think its Mg+2 but im not sure why.

Answer 1

Lets look at the structure.
In the nucleus it's 12 protons and 12 neutrons.
The outside shells are
2...8 ...2
|...| ...|
|...|....|
The numbers are the electrons in the outside shells and those | and
|
|
are supposed to be shells.
What I've drawn is the Mg ATOM. If you make the Mg^+2 ion, we remove the two outside electrons. Now, which one, the atom or the ion is smaller and which is larger.?

Answer 2

so that means the ion is smaller because your removing the 2 outside electrons ?

Answer 3

yes.