Characteristic features of the electrostatic potentials of singly negative monoatomic ions

Abstract

We show that a monoatomic negative ion has a minimum in its electrostatic potential V(r) occurring at the radial distance rm that encompasses a quantity of electronic charge exactly equal to the nuclear charge. Thus, V(rm) is due entirely to the excess electronic charge on the ion. We suggest that rm can be identified with the radius of the ion, while V(rm) indicates the strength of its interactions with positive ions.