Question

Which has the greater polarizing power, Li+ or Be2+ and why?

Answer 1

Answer:

Polarizing power refers to an atoms ability to pull an electron toward it, polarizing the atom the electron comes from. Since cations are positive, they are able to attract electrons toward themselves. Anions are negative and so do not attract more electrons.

Therefore, Be2+ has a higher polarizing power because it has a higher quantitiy of protons, hence a higher polarizing power.