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Paper 3 · June 2009 · Atomic Structure and Bonding

Which ion is least polarising?

AAl3+Al^{3+}
BBa2+Ba^{2+}
CNa+Na^+
DMg2+Mg^{2+}

Explanation

Polarising power is set by charge density, the charge divided by the ionic radius. Using six-coordinate radii: Al3+Al^{3+} is 3/54, about 0.056 charge units per pm; Mg2+Mg^{2+} is 2/72, about 0.028; Ba2+Ba^{2+} is 2/135, about 0.015; and Na+Na^+ is 1/102, about 0.0098. Na+Na^+ carries a single charge spread over a large radius, so it has the lowest charge density of the four and is the least polarising. Ba2+Ba^{2+} is the least polarising of the doubly charged ions, but it still has about one and a half times the charge density of Na+Na^+.

ZIMSEC Chemistry Paper 3, June 2009, Q9

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