Question #64e44

1 Answer
Aug 6, 2017

A smaller cation has higher polarization as it has a smaller size.

Explanation:

Polarization is the distortion of the electron cloud of an ion or a molecule by an electric field.

The formula for the electrostatic force between two charges #q_1# and #q_2# is

#F = (kq_1q_2)/d^2#

where #d# is the distance between the charges and #k# is a proportionality constant.

A smaller cation can get closer to the electron cloud of a nearby ion or molecule, so it can exert a greater attraction (distorting force) on those electrons.

Thus, a small cation has a greater ability to polarize nearby ions and molecules.