Question

Explain Partial covalent character of lithium compounds
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Answer 1

Partial covalent character of lithium compounds:-

The book mentions that the salts of alkali metals are the most known ionic salts.

On the other hand, lithium is an alkali metal, yet its compounds especially halides are partially covalent in nature.

This is because lithium ion has a small size and has the maximum tendency to distort the anionic electron cloud. This distortion of the electron cloud of a negative ion by a positive ion is known as polarisation. In turn, this results in increasing covalent character in lithium compounds.

Answer 2

Lithium ion has a small size and has the maximum tendency to distort the anionic electron cloud. This distortion of the electron cloud of a negative ion by a positive ion is known as polarisation. In turn, this results in increasing covalent character in lithium compounds.