The charge/size ratio of a cation determines its polarizing power. Which one of the following sequences represents the increasing order of the polarizing power of the cationic species, `K^+,Ca^(2+), Mg^(2+), Be^(2+)`

Options

A. `K^(+) gt Ca^(2+) gt Mg^(2+) lt Be^(2+)`
B. `Be^(2+) lt Ca^(2+)lt Mg^(2+) lt K^(+)`
C. `Mg^(2+) lt K^(+)lt Be^(2+) lt Ca^(2+)`
D. `K^(+) lt Ca^(2+) lt Mg^(2+) lt Be^(2+)`

Answer

D

Explanation

Smaller the size and higher the charge, more will be polarizing power of the cation. Since the order of the size of cation is `K^(+) gt Ca^(2+) gt Mg^(2+) gt Be^(2+)` the correct of polarizing power is `K^(+) lt Ca^(2+) lt Mg^(2+) lt Be^(2+)`