Question

What factors affect Polarizability?

Answer 1

Hint: We need to know that a matter is usually made up of elementary particles which have an electric charge, namely protons and electrons. An electron carries negative charge whereas a proton carries positive charge. A proton lies inside the nucleus whereas an electron lies outside the nucleus in a circular path in an atom.

Complete answer:
Before starting this question we must know what Polarizability means? Polarizability can be referred to the tendency of matter, which is subjected to an electric field, to acquire an electric dipole moment in proportion to that applied field. The factors which are responsible for Polarizability can be: Molecular size and the number of electrons.
Now how can we say that molecular size affects Polarizability so the answer is: on increasing the atomic size, Polarizability also increases, that means molecular size is directly proportional to Polarizability. Now the question comes how the number of electrons affects Polarizability. The greater the number of electrons, greater is the Polarizability of an atom. Also we can say that, the greater the distance of electrons from nuclear charge, the less control the nuclear charge has on the charge distribution, and thus the increased polarizability of the atom. Molecular orientation can also be the reason to affect polarizability but some exceptions for molecules are always there like for octahedral or tetrahedral.
 The weakest forces among all the forces of attraction are dispersion forces. Dispersion forces can also affect polarization. As polarizability increases, the dispersion forces also become stronger.

Note:
We need to know that the polarizability can be affected by many factors such as molecular size, number of electrons, molecular orientation and also the forces of dispersion. Polarization can be the interaction between non-polar atoms, molecules and electrically charged species.