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Only lithium chloride form hydrates while other alkali metal chlorides not form hydrates . Why?

Only lithium chloride form hydrates while other alkali metal chlorides not form hydrates . Why?

Grade:12th pass

1 Answers

Arun
25750 Points
5 years ago
Lithium is the smallest in size among the alkali metals. Hence, Li+ ion can polarize water molecules more easily than other alkali metals. As a result, water molecules get attached to lithium salts as water of crystallization. Hence, lithium salts such as trihydrated lithium chloride (LiC1.3H20) are commonly hydrated. As the size of the ions increases, their polarizing power decreases. Hence, other alkali metal ions usually form anhydrous salts.
 
Regards
Arun

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