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The below image represents an atom of a specific hypothetica…

The below image represents an atom of a specific hypothetical element and its own cation.   Which image represents the cation?  Y represents the cation  X represents the cation  What supports your choice?   Cations are larger than their neutral atom Cations are smaller than their neutral atom  Why does this occur?   Because cations lose electrons from the outer most shell, the remaining electrons have a stronger attraction to the nucleus and are pulled closer, thereby making the ion small Because cations gain electrons, the incoming electrons will be repelled by the existing electron and therefore the shell will expand to accommodate them.