The size of ions as measured by ionic radii varies in a systematic manner. the size of the ion can be explained in part by effective nuclear charge, zeff, which is the net nuclear charge felt by an electron. the effective nuclear charge takes into account the actual nuclear charge and the shielding of this charge by inner electrons. when an atom loses electrons, the resulting cation is smaller both because the remaining electrons experience a larger zeff and because these electrons are usually in orbitals closer to the nucleus than the electrons that were lost. the more electrons that are lost, the smaller the ion becomepart arank the following ions in order of decreasing radius: rb+,k+,li+,cs+, and na+.rank from largest to smallest radius. to rank items as equivalent, overlap them. part brank the following items in order of decreasing radius: ca, ca2+, and ca2−.rank from largest to smallest radius. to rank items as equivalent, overlap them. part cthe following ions contain the same number of electrons. rank them in order of decreasing ionic radii. cl^- ; ca^2+ ; s^2- ; k+ ; p^3-; sc^3+rank from largest to smallest radius. to rank items as equivalent, overlap them.