Dino Nugget Mini review

[derinceltik1K]

a) Which ion has the most polarizing power? Why? Li+​ Na+​ K+​

how would we solve this question?

[Michelle Song 1I]

I assume it is Li+ since I think for cations, they have more polarizing power with higher charge and smaller radius.

[CalvinTNguyen2D]

Polarizing power is related to the charge over the size of the ion; Lithium would have the most polarizing power, as it as the smallest radius out of all the cations listed.

[Hannah Lee 2F]

Polarizing power refers to the ability of an atom/ion to "distort" the electron cloud of another atom/ion. In ionic bonds, this can create a covalent character, since the positive charge on the cations will pull the electrons from the anion into the bonding region.

Because of this, higher polarizing power correlates with smaller, more highly charged cations. This allows the cation to get closer to the anion and exert a greater pull on their electrons. Out of all those ions, Li+ has the smallest radius and thus the greatest polarizing power.