0

Guest

Courses New

Why are lithium salts commonly hydrated and those of the other alkali ions usually anhydrous?

Why are lithium salts commonly hydrated and those of the other alkali ions usually anhydrous?

Grade:12

5 Answers

Gaurav
askIITians Faculty 164 Points
9 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.
Rohan Cool
24 Points
7 years ago
Lithium due to small size and high polarising power attach to water molecules easily and form (LiCl.3H2o). Where as other alkali metals have large size due to that their polarising power decreases as their polarising power decreases they form a anhydrous salts.....hope this helped u a lot...this is short n precise
Raj sharma
19 Points
6 years ago
Among alkali metal ions,Li^+ is the smallest.Therefore, it has the highest charge density and hence attracts the water molecules more strongly than any other alkali metal.
Shubham Singh
15 Points
5 years ago
Lithium have a very small size and being so small its charge is only distributed to a small space and thus it can attract the lone pair of water molecules very effectively than other metals. Therefore its salts are generally hydrated and other alkali metals salt are generally anhydrous.
 
 
Hope so this helped
 
Thanks🙏
 
Hope so this helped.
Th
Kushagra Madhukar
askIITians Faculty 628 Points
3 years ago
Dear student,
Please find the answer to your question.
 
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.
 
Hope it helps.
Thanks and regards,
Kushagra

Think You Can Provide A Better Answer ?

Other Related Questions on Physical Chemistry

View all Questions »

ASK QUESTION

Get your questions answered by the expert for free

Answer and earn gift vouchers

Win Gift vouchers upto Rs 500/-

View courses by askIITians

Design classes One-on-One in your own way with Top IITians/Medical Professionals

Click Here Know More

Complete Self Study Package designed by Industry Leading Experts

Click Here Know More

Live 1-1 coding classes to unleash the Creator in your Child

Click Here Know More

a Complete All-in-One Study package Fully Loaded inside a Tablet!

Click Here Know More