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Polarization is the distortion of an anion's electron cloud by a neighbouring cation. Which of the following statements is incorrect?

1. A cation of small radius produces minimum polarization.
2. A large cation tends to cause a large degree of polarization.
3. A cation of high charge produces maximum polarization.
4. A small anion tends to undergo a large degree of polarization.

Correct answer: A large cation tends to cause a large degree of polarization.

Solution

By Fajans' rules a small, highly charged cation has high polarizing power, and a large anion is more polarizable. A large cation has low polarizing power, so the statement that a large cation causes large polarization is incorrect.

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