Distorted e- as highly polarizable

[Trent Yamamoto 2J]

Why are highly distorted electrons described as being highly polarizable? Which characteristics result in the ionic bond being more covalent in character?

[RoshniVarmaDis1K]

Highly distorted electrons are highly polarizable because they can be pulled away from their central atoms towards the bonding region.

Ionic bonds display covalent characteristics when electrostatic attraction pulls electrons from the anion towards the cation. The electrons being pulled towards the bonding region is a "covalent characteristic."

[Victor James 4I]

^^ the pulling of the electrons is sort of similar to the sharing of electrons in a covalent bond, which is why they call it covalent characteristic

[Junwei Sun 4I]

Highly distorted electrons are described as highly polarizable because they are more likely to cause dipoles. As electrons are pulled toward one side of the ions they are really likely to create dipole since the charge now is uneven. The more the number of distorted electrons being pulled into the bonding region between two ions, the more the ionic bond has covalent character.

[Drake Choi_1I]

What causes electrons to be distorted?

[Siya Shah 1J]

Electrons can be distorted when there is a nearby atom that has a higher polarizing power that pulls on the electron cloud, introducing distortion.