Can an Anion be Polarizing

[Pranav Kadiyala 1A]

So in this context we typically refer to the Anion as polarizable and the Cation as polarizing. Is it possible for the Anion to be polarizing and the Cation to be polarizable? What would this mean in terms of the covalent/ionic nature of their bond?

[Ria Nawathe 1C]

I think the electrons on the anion are referred to as polarizable and the cation as polarizing and not the other way around because the protons in the nucleus of the cation don't "move" due to the attractive force they experience from the electrons of the anion. It is the electrons that are involved in bonding and pulled toward the nucleus. Hope this helps!

[Wasila Sun 2I]

I think this is related to the charge. An cation is a positively charged ion, which means that it gives an electron to an anion. This means that the cation is polarizing because it has the ability to polarize and give it's electrons away. The anion, a negatively charged ion, is polarizable because it gains an electron aka allowing to be polarized.

[Gillian Gabrielsen2F]

I don't think so. A cation's positive charge is what causes it to be polarizing. Since a cation has a positive charge, the nucleus has a greater pull on the cation's electrons and they're held more tightly within the electron cloud. An anion has a negative charge, which means it has an excess of electrons and generally has a larger atomic radius. This makes an anion's nucleus not have as great of a hold on the outermost electrons, So the Cation's positive charge is able attract the anion's electrons and pull them in closer. I don't think an anion could have a same effect on a cation since anion's have a negative charge, which would repel electrons rather than attracts them. Hope this helped

[Taber Ball 1F]

I don't think so. A cation's positive charge is what causes it to be polarizing. Since a cation has a positive charge, the nucleus has a greater pull on the cation's electrons and they're held more tightly within the electron cloud. An anion has a negative charge, which means it has an excess of electrons and generally has a larger atomic radius. This makes an anion's nucleus not have as great of a hold on the outermost electrons, So the Cation's positive charge is able attract the anion's electrons and pull them in closer. I don't think an anion could have a same effect on a cation since anion's have a negative charge, which would repel electrons rather than attracts them. Hope this helped

This is an awesome explanation! Thank you so much! I found a diagram which might be helpful in visualizing the way the cation pulls the electrons toward it demonstrating how the cation is polarizing and the anion is polarizable. The diagram uses the example of water where the oxygen atom is the cation and the hydrogen atoms are the anions. Hope everyone finds this helpful!