Final answer:
The calcium ion (Ca²+) is smaller than the calcium atom (Ca) due to the loss of electrons and increased positive charge attracting remaining electrons closer to the nucleus.
Explanation:
The calcium ion (Ca²+) is smaller compared to the calcium atom (Ca).
When calcium loses two electrons to become Ca²+, it decreases in size due to the increased positive charge pulling the remaining electrons in closer to the nucleus, resulting in a smaller ionic radius.
In contrast, the calcium atom has a larger size as it contains the complete electron cloud around the nucleus, making it larger than the calcium ion.
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