Q.Consider the following species: N^3-, O^2-, F^-, Na^+, Mg^2+ and Al^3+
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Isoelectronic Species – From Intuition to Precision
Imagine you are building atoms with LEGO blocks. Each block is a proton (positive charge) or an electron (negative charge). The number of protons decides which element you have — that's the atomic number Z. The number of electrons decides the charge on the particle.
Now, here is the key idea: two different particles can have the same number of electrons. When that happens, their electron clouds are arranged in the same way. They become isoelectronic.
The Intuition
Think of a neutral neon atom. It has 10 protons and 10 electrons. Now take a sodium atom (11 protons, 11 electrons) and remove one electron. You get Na+, which has 11 protons but only 10 electrons. The electron count of Na+ is exactly the same as that of neutral neon.
Even though Na+ and Ne are different elements with different nuclear charges, their electron configurations are identical: 1s22s22p6. They are iso (same) electronic (electron arrangement).
Isoelectronic species share the same number of electrons and therefore the same electronic configuration. They differ in nuclear charge (Z).
The Precise Statement
Definition: Two or more atoms, ions, or molecules are said to be isoelectronic if they have the same number of electrons.
That is the entire definition. But the real power comes from what follows: because their electron clouds are identical in structure, their properties — like ionic radii, ionization energy, and chemical behaviour — show clear, predictable trends when you compare them.
How to Identify Isoelectronic Species
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Count the electrons in each species.
- For a neutral atom: electrons = atomic number Z.
- For a positive ion: electrons = Z - (charge magnitude).
- For a negative ion: electrons = Z + (charge magnitude).
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Compare the counts. If they match, the species are isoelectronic.
Example: Which of these are isoelectronic? O2−, F−, Na+, Mg2+, Ne.
- O2−: Z=8, electrons = 8+2=10
- F−: Z=9, electrons = 9+1=10
- Na+: Z=11, electrons = 11−1=10
- Mg2+: Z=12, electrons = 12−2=10
- Ne: Z=10, electrons = 10
All five have 10 electrons. They form an isoelectronic series.
Electrons in an ion=Z−(charge)
where charge is taken with its sign (e.g., for O2−, charge = −2, so electrons = 8−(−2)=10).
The Critical Consequence: Size Trends
Here is where the concept becomes exam-relevant. In an isoelectronic series, as nuclear charge (Z) increases, the ionic radius decreases.
Why? The same number of electrons is pulled more strongly by a larger positive nucleus. The electron cloud shrinks.
For the series above (O2−, F−, Na+, Mg2+, Ne):
| Species | Z | Electrons | Relative Radius |
|---|---|---|---|
| O2− | 8 | 10 | Largest |
| F− | 9 | 10 | ↓ |
| Ne | 10 | 10 | ↓ |
| Na+ | 11 | 10 | ↓ |
| Mg2+ | 12 | 10 | Smallest |
All six species (N3-, O2-, F-, Na+, Mg2+, Al3+) have exactly 10 electrons and the same electronic configuration (2,8), making them isoelectronic; among isoelectronic species the ionic radius shrinks as nuclear charge (atomic number) rises, so radius increases in the order Al3+ < Mg2+ < Na+ < F- < O2- < N3-. …
N3-, O2-, F-, Na+, Mg2+, Al3+ are all isoelectronic (10 electrons each, neon configuration); for isoelectronic species, radius decreases as nuclear charge (Z) increases, so the increasing-radius order is Al3+ < Mg2+ < Na+ < F- < O2- < N3-.
(a) What is common:
Count the electrons in each species (atomic number Z minus/plus the charge):
- N3-: Z=7, +3 electrons -> 10 electrons
- O2-: Z=8, +2 electrons -> 10 electrons
- F-: Z=9, +1 electron -> 10 electrons
- Na+: Z=11, -1 electron -> 10 electrons
- Mg2+: Z=12, -2 electrons -> 10 electrons
- Al3+: Z=13, -3 electrons -> 10 electrons
All six species have exactly 10 electrons, each with the electronic configuration 1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 (the same as neon). Species with identical electron counts and configurations are called isoelectronic species — this is what is common to all of them.
(b) Order of increasing ionic radii:
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Showing the 12 most recent of 14 on this concept.
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.Which of the following is a set of isoelectronic species?(a) CO, N2, CN-(b) N2, O2+, NO(c) CO, CN-, O2^-2(d) NO2-, N2O, O3
›Reveal solutionSolution
Isoelectronic species have the same total number of electrons. Count total electrons for each species in every option and check whether all members of the set match.
Option (a): CO, N2, CN-
- CO: C (6 e-) + O (8 e-) = 14 electrons.
- N2: N (7 e-) + N (7 e-) = 14 electrons.
- CN-: C (6 e-) + N (7 e-) + 1 extra electron (negative charge) = 14 electrons. All three have 14 electrons -- genuinely isoelectronic.
Option (b): N2 (14), O2+ (16 - 1 = 15), NO (7 + 8 = 15) -- not all equal (14, 15, 15).
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- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.Which of the following ions has the largest size ?(a) Na^+(b) Mg^2+(c) O^2-(d) F^-
›Reveal solutionSolution
Among the isoelectronic ions, O^2- (lowest nuclear charge) is the largest.
All four ions have 10 electrons (isoelectronic). For isoelectronic species, size increases as nuclear charge (Z) decreases, because fewer protons pull the same electrons less tightly. …
- CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.O2-, F-, Na+ and Mg2+ are called as(a) Isoelectronic species(b) Isoneutral species(c) Isotopes(d) Isobars
›Reveal solutionSolution
'Isoelectronic' means having the same number of electrons; all four given species have exactly 10 electrons, matching neon's electron count.
Check the electron count of each species by taking the parent element's atomic number and adjusting for charge:
- O2- : Oxygen (Z=8) has 8 electrons; the 2- charge adds 2 electrons -> 8 + 2 = 10 electrons
- F- : Fluorine (Z=9) has 9 electrons; the 1- charge adds 1 electron -> 9 + 1 = 10 electrons
- Na+ : Sodium (Z=11) has 11 electrons; the 1+ charge removes 1 electron -> 11 - 1 = 10 electrons
- Mg2+ : Magnesium (Z=12) has 12 electrons; the 2+ charge removes 2 electrons -> 12 - 2 = 10 electrons …
- CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.Out of isoelectronic ions O2-, F-, Na+ and Mg2+, which will have smallest radius?(a) O2-(b) Na+(c) Mg2+(d) F-
›Reveal solutionSolution
All four species have 10 electrons, so the one with the highest nuclear charge pulls its electron cloud in the most, giving the smallest radius.
O2−, F−, Na+, and Mg2+ are isoelectronic — each has 10 electrons (same electronic configuration, 1s22s22p6).
For isoelectronic species, the radius is governed entirely by nuclear charge Z (number of protons), since the number of electrons and their shielding is identical:
Z(O)=8,Z(F)=9,Z(Na)=11,Z(Mg)=12
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- CBSE 2024Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.Which one of the following sets of ions represents a collection of isoelectronic species? (At. Nos. F = 9, Cl = 17, Na = 11, Mg = 12, Al = 13, K = 19, Ca = 40, Sc = 21)(a) K+, Ca2+, Sc3+, Cl-(b) Na+, Ca2+, Sc3+, F-(c) K+, Cl-, Mg2+, Sc3+(d) Na+, Mg2+, Al3+, Cl-
›Reveal solutionSolution
Isoelectronic species have the same number of electrons; checking each set shows only option (a) has all ions at 18 electrons.
Electron count of an ion = atomic number minus charge (for cations) or plus charge magnitude (for anions).
Option (a): K+ = 19-1 = 18; Ca2+ = 20-2 = 18; Sc3+ = 21-3 = 18; Cl- = 17+1 = 18. All equal to 18 -- isoelectronic.
Option (b): Na+ = 11-1 = 10; Ca2+ = 18; Sc3+ = 18; F- = 9+1 = 10. Mixed 10s and 18s -- not isoelectronic.
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- CBSE 2023Set ANN1 markQ.Which among the following is isoelectronic with O2- ?(a) Na(b) Ca2+(c) F-(d) Mg
›Reveal solutionSolution
Isoelectronic species have the same number of electrons. O2⁻ has 10 electrons, so we need the option with 10 electrons.
O2⁻: Oxygen (Z = 8) has 8 electrons; O2⁻ gains 2 more electrons → 8 + 2 = 10 electrons.
Check each option:
- Na (Z = 11): 11 electrons.
- Ca2+ (Z = 20): 20 − 2 = 18 electrons. …
- CBSE 2023Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.Which of the following are iso-electronic ?(a) CO_2, NO_2(b) NO_2^-, CO_2(c) CN^-, CO(d) SO_2, CO_2
›Reveal solutionSolution
CN- and CO are isoelectronic (14 electrons each).
Isoelectronic species contain the same number of electrons. Counting:
- CN-: 6 (C) + 7 (N) + 1 (charge) = 14
- CO: 6 (C) + 8 (O) = 14 …
- CBSE 2022Set TERM11 markMCQQ.Which one of the following sets of ions represents a collection of isoelectronic species ? (At. No. : F = 9, Cl = 17, Na = 11, Mg = 12, Al = 13, K = 19, Ca = 20, Sc = 21)(a) K+, Ca2+, Sc3+, Cl-(b) Na+, Ca2+, Sc3+, Cl-(c) K+, Cl-, Mg2+, Sc3+(d) Na+, Mg2+, Al3+, Cl-
›Reveal solutionSolution
Isoelectronic species have the SAME number of electrons. Compute electrons for each ion in every option and find the set where all four match.
Atomic numbers given: F=9, Cl=17, Na=11, Mg=12, Al=13, K=19, Ca=20, Sc=21.
Option (a): K+ = 19-1 = 18; Ca2+ = 20-2 = 18; Sc3+ = 21-3 = 18; Cl- = 17+1 = 18. All four = 18 electrons -- isoelectronic (with Ar).
Option (b): Na+ = 11-1 = 10 (does not match the others at 18) -- not isoelectronic.
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- CBSE 2020Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The anion O^- is isoelectronic with(a) N^2-(b) F^-(c) N^3-(d) Ne
›Reveal solutionSolution
O^- has 9 electrons; among the options, N^2- also has 9 electrons, so they are isoelectronic.
Isoelectronic species are atoms/ions that have the identical number of electrons, regardless of their identity.
Count electrons for O^-: oxygen has atomic number Z = 8, so it has 8 electrons; gaining one extra electron to form O^- gives 8 + 1 = 9 electrons.
Now check each option:
- (a) N^2-: nitrogen Z = 7 electrons; N^2- = 7 + 2 = 9 electrons. Matches.
- (b) F^-: fluorine Z = 9 electrons; F^- = 9 + 1 = 10 electrons. Does not match. …
- CBSE 2019Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.Isoelectronic ions are:(a) Na+, O-(b) F, O2-(c) Al3+, P3+(d) F-, O2-
›Reveal solutionSolution
Isoelectronic species contain the same number of electrons, even though their nuclear charges differ. Comparing electron counts for each pair identifies F⁻ and O²⁻ as the isoelectronic pair.
Electrons in an ion = atomic number − charge (for a cation, subtract the positive charge; for an anion, add the negative charge).
- Na⁺, O⁻: Na (Z=11) → Na⁺ has 11−1=10 electrons. O (Z=8) → O⁻ has 8+1=9 electrons. 10ne9, not isoelectronic.
- F, O²⁻: F (Z=9) as a neutral atom has 9 electrons. O²⁻ has 8+2=10 electrons. 9ne10, not isoelectronic. …
- CBSE 2018Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.(c) Which of the following pairs represent isoelectronic(i) F-, Mg, Al3+(ii) Mg2+, Na+ and Ne(iii) Na, Mg2+ and F(iv) Al, Ne and O2-
›Reveal solutionSolution
Species with the same number of electrons are isoelectronic; Mg2+ (10e-), Na+ (10e-) and Ne (10e-) match exactly.
Step 1: Count electrons in each species of every option.
Option (i): F- = 9+1=10, Mg = 12, Al3+ = 13-3=10 -> not all equal.
Option (ii): Mg2+ = 12-2=10, Na+ = 11-1=10, Ne = 10 -> all equal (10 each).
Option (iii): Na = 11, Mg2+ = 10, F = 9 -> not equal. …
- CBSE 2017Set ANNUAL1 markQ.Arrange O^-2, Mg^+2, Na^+, F^-, Al^+3 in the increasing order of ionic radius.
›Reveal solutionSolution
These five ions are isoelectronic (each has 10 electrons, the Ne configuration); among isoelectronic species, the ion with the higher nuclear charge (atomic number) is smaller.
All five species have 10 electrons:
- O^-2: Z = 8, electrons = 8 + 2 = 10
- F^-: Z = 9, electrons = 9 + 1 = 10
- Na^+: Z = 11, electrons = 11 - 1 = 10
- Mg^+2: Z = 12, electrons = 12 - 2 = 10
- Al^+3: Z = 13, electrons = 13 - 3 = 10
Since all have the same number of electrons (same electron shells, i.e., the same shielding), the effective nuclear charge felt by each electron increases as the atomic number Z increases. A higher effective nuclear charge pulls the electron cloud in more tightly, making the ion smaller. So radius decreases steadily as Z increases from O (8) to Al (13).
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