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Increasing polarization

Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2015 1:45 pm
by 504594108
For problem 3.83 why does N^3- have more polarizability than 0^2-?

Re: Increasing polarization

Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2015 2:05 pm
by Melissa Ikeda 1K
N^3- and O^2- have the same number of electrons, but O has more protons, so it has a stronger pull on it's electrons. N^3- would have a larger ionic radii because it's electrons experience less of a pull, so they have more polarizability.

Re: Increasing polarization

Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2016 9:53 pm
by Colin Hayashi 1K
N^3- would have a larger ionic radii because it's electrons experience less of a pull, so they have more polarizability.


To expand on what the above quote is saying, the lessened pull is a result of lessened electrostatic coulombic force by the N^3- due to the above mentioned lessened effective nuclear charge in comparison to an O atom. The polarization is the effect of the distortion of the electron cloud as the increase in cloud size relates to it's increased ability to be attracted to the positive nucleus of a surrounding cation.

Re: Increasing polarization

Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2017 12:36 pm
by Alexandria Weinberger
O^2- has more protons than N^3-, making the effective nuclear charge of the oxygen anion greater than the nitrogen anion. This will have more of a pull on electrons. This greater effective nuclear charge will also be able to resist distortion or its electron cloud more, meaning that it won't be able to be polarized as easily (less polarizability).