Differences with these terms? [ENDORSED]

[Lilia Hacoupian 2E]

Hello!

Can someone please explain to me the differences between polarizability and the polarizing power trends? What exactly do they mean when regarding anions and cations, and how can one differentiate between their trends on the periodic table? Thanks!

[Angelina Tran 2F]

Hi!

So polarizing power regards to cations, and it is the ability to disort an anion. The trend for polarizing power is usually that the smaller and more charged the cation, the higher the polarizing power. This is usually from left to right as atoms get smaller. Polarizability refers to anions and is the measure of how easily an electron cloud is distorted. The larger the anion, the more it can be polarized.

[Christian_Lee_2K]

Hi there!

I'd also like to add that the relationship of polarizability/polarizing power can be related to protons.

More protons mean more polarizing power because of the stronger pull of the electrons to the protons.

Less protons mean more polarizability because fewer protons are available to pull the electrons closer to the nucleus.

I hope this helps!