Why are anions larger than their parent atom?

Atoms are neutrally charged by nature because there are equal numbers of positive and negative charges (electrons and protons). However, in compounds (mixes) known as ionic compounds, an electron leaves one atom and joins another to form an ion, which can be positively charged (called a cation) or negatively charged (called an anion).

Remember that the number of protons is fixed, depending on the element; the number of electrons can vary. An anion gains an electron, making it larger than its mother atom; a cation, on the other hand, loses one of its electrons, making it smaller.

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Anions are larger than their parent atoms because they have gained one or more electrons, resulting in an increase in the electron-electron repulsion within the electron cloud. This causes the electron cloud to expand, leading to a larger atomic size compared to the neutral atom.