When a neutral atom is converted into cation, there is

Options

A. Atomic weight increases
B. Atomic weight decreases
C. Size increases
D. Size decreases

Answer

To solve the question "When a neutral atom is converted into a cation, there is:", we will analyze the changes that occur during the formation of a cation from a neutral atom.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Cation Formation**:
- A cation is formed when a neutral atom loses one or more electrons. This process results in a positively charged ion.

2. **Effect on Atomic Weight**:
- The atomic weight of an element is primarily determined by the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus. Since the formation of a cation involves only the loss of electrons (which have negligible mass compared to protons and neutrons), the atomic weight remains essentially unchanged. Therefore, atomic weight does not increase or decrease.

3. **Effect on Size**:
- When an electron is removed to form a cation, the number of electrons decreases while the number of protons remains the same. This leads to an increase in the effective nuclear charge (the net positive charge experienced by electrons due to the protons in the nucleus).
- The effective nuclear charge increases because there are fewer electrons to shield the nucleus's positive charge. As a result, the remaining electrons are pulled closer to the nucleus, causing the size of the atom to decrease.

4. **Conclusion**:
- Based on the above analysis, when a neutral atom is converted into a cation, the size of the atom decreases.

### Final Answer:
When a neutral atom is converted into a cation, there is a decrease in size.