Question

Hydration energy of Na+ is less than Li+ ion. Give reason

Answer 1

Answer:

The alkali metal ion exist as hydrated ions M+(H2O)n in the aqueous solution. The degree of hydration, decreases with ionic size as we go down the group. Hence Li+ ion is mostly hydrated e.g. [Li(H2O)6]+. Since the mobility of ions is inversely proportional to the size of the their hydrated ions, hence the increasing order of ionic mobility is Li+.