cations are smaller than the atoms from which they were formed because they lost an electron thus becoming smaller in size.
anions are bigger than the atoms from which they were formed because they gained an electron and increasing in size.
the greater the nuclear charge, the smaller they are.
Source(s):general chemistry 4th edition textbook
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Cations are smaller then neutral atoms and anions are larger.
A solubility chart or a table of standard reduction potentials can be used to determine which cations or anions will replace others in a chemical reaction depending on their reactivity and solubility properties.
a reactivity series
In a neutral compound, the sum of charges of all cations and anions will be zero. This is because cations have a positive charge and anions have a negative charge, and in a neutral compound, these charges will balance out.
A tool that would be used to find information on which cations or anions will replace others in a chemical reaction is a displacement table.