Polarizability and Polarizing Power

[Mary Gallo 1G]

Hi! Does anyone have a good way to remember what makes an atom/ion more polarizable and which atoms/ions have more polarizing power? I'm having a little trouble with those concepts.

[Akash J 1J]

Hi! Does anyone have a good way to remember what makes an atom/ion more polarizable and which atoms/ions have more polarizing power? I'm having a little trouble with those concepts.

The larger and more electrons the atom has, the more polarizable it is.
The smaller and higher charged cations/anions (2+ > 1+ or 2- > 1-) have greater polarizing power. For atoms, the smaller and further along a period it is, the more polarizing power it has (higher electronegativity). Fluorine has the highest electronegativity.

[Sid Panda 3A]

Hi! Does anyone have a good way to remember what makes an atom/ion more polarizable and which atoms/ions have more polarizing power? I'm having a little trouble with those concepts.

For atoms that are more polarizable, the bigger the atom is = the more polarizable. I like to remember this by thinking of an analogy where I'm trying to pop balloons with a dart. The bigger the balloon, the more likely I'll be when I throw a dart to pop it (influence its e- cloud).

For polarizing power, the smaller the atom = the more polarizing power. It will be a lot harder for me to throw a really massive dart at a balloon, so I can't "polarize/pop the balloon as easily. The smaller the dart, the easier it is to throw the dart and pop the balloon.

Hope this helps.

[Mary Gallo 1G]

Wow, I really like the balloon and dart analogy! Thank you both for the explanations, they really help!

[MCalcagnie_ 1D]

That balloon analogy was super helpful!! Thank you!

[MichaelMendozaD1F]

Hi! Does anyone have a good way to remember what makes an atom/ion more polarizable and which atoms/ions have more polarizing power? I'm having a little trouble with those concepts.

For atoms that are more polarizable, the bigger the atom is = the more polarizable. I like to remember this by thinking of an analogy where I'm trying to pop balloons with a dart. The bigger the balloon, the more likely I'll be when I throw a dart to pop it (influence its e- cloud).

For polarizing power, the smaller the atom = the more polarizing power. It will be a lot harder for me to throw a really massive dart at a balloon, so I can't "polarize/pop the balloon as easily. The smaller the dart, the easier it is to throw the dart and pop the balloon.

Hope this helps.

thank you for the analogy, is e-cloud determinable simply based on a substances placement on the periodic table?

[Sid Panda 3A]

Hi! Does anyone have a good way to remember what makes an atom/ion more polarizable and which atoms/ions have more polarizing power? I'm having a little trouble with those concepts.

For atoms that are more polarizable, the bigger the atom is = the more polarizable. I like to remember this by thinking of an analogy where I'm trying to pop balloons with a dart. The bigger the balloon, the more likely I'll be when I throw a dart to pop it (influence its e- cloud).

For polarizing power, the smaller the atom = the more polarizing power. It will be a lot harder for me to throw a really massive dart at a balloon, so I can't "polarize/pop the balloon as easily. The smaller the dart, the easier it is to throw the dart and pop the balloon.

Hope this helps.

thank you for the analogy, is e-cloud determinable simply based on a substances placement on the periodic table?

e- cloud would vary depending on the atomic radius.

[MichaelMendozaD1F]

For atoms that are more polarizable, the bigger the atom is = the more polarizable. I like to remember this by thinking of an analogy where I'm trying to pop balloons with a dart. The bigger the balloon, the more likely I'll be when I throw a dart to pop it (influence its e- cloud).

For polarizing power, the smaller the atom = the more polarizing power. It will be a lot harder for me to throw a really massive dart at a balloon, so I can't "polarize/pop the balloon as easily. The smaller the dart, the easier it is to throw the dart and pop the balloon.

Hope this helps.

thank you for the analogy, is e-cloud determinable simply based on a substances placement on the periodic table?

e- cloud would vary depending on the atomic radius.

gotcha, thank you for your response!