Question

Are larger atoms more polarizable?

Answer 1

Hint:If the atom or molecules are going to induce or show a change in dipole moment by applying a local electrical field is called polarization or polarizability of that particular atom or molecule in crystalline state.

Complete step-by-step answer:- In the question it is asked to explain the relation between the size of the molecule towards the polarization.
- We know that atoms have electrons in their respective orbitals.
- The electrons are going to revolve around the nucleus with constant velocity.
- If the size of the atom is less than the electrons present in the atom are going to hold by the nucleus very tightly.
- As the size of the atom is going to increase the nucleus attraction power on the valence electrons is going to decrease.
- So by applying an electric field we can create a change in dipole moment in the atom.
- Therefore the polarizability of an atom is going to depend on the size of the atom.
- If the atom have less electronegativity and is large in size (large radius) then the atom will get easily polarizable.
- In the periodic table as we are moving from left to right polarizability of the atoms decreases due to the decrease in size of the atom and polarizability increases while moving from top to bottom due to increase in atom size.

Note:If we talk about the halogens. The iodine atom will have high polarizability when compared to fluorine and chlorine. This is because of the large size of the iodine when compared to fluorine and chlorine.