Which one of the following chlorides has maximum tendency to from hydrate ?

Options

A. `BaCl_(2)`
B. NaCl
C. `MgCl_(2)`
D. LiCl

Answer

To determine which chloride has the maximum tendency to form hydrates among the options provided (BaCl2, NaCl, MgCl2, and LiCl), we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Understand the concept of hydration
Hydration refers to the process where water molecules surround and interact with ions. The ability of a salt to form hydrates depends on the size and charge of the cation present in the salt.

**Hint:** Remember that smaller cations with higher charges tend to attract more water molecules.

### Step 2: Analyze the cations in the given chlorides
The cations in the provided chlorides are:
- BaCl2: Ba²⁺
- NaCl: Na⁺
- MgCl2: Mg²⁺
- LiCl: Li⁺

**Hint:** Identify the charge and size of each cation. Smaller cations with higher charges will have a greater tendency to form hydrates.

### Step 3: Compare the sizes and charges of the cations
- **Na⁺ and Li⁺**: Both have a +1 charge, but Li⁺ is smaller than Na⁺.
- **Ba²⁺ and Mg²⁺**: Both have a +2 charge, but Mg²⁺ is smaller than Ba²⁺.

**Hint:** Recall that as you move down a group in the periodic table, the size of the cation increases.

### Step 4: Determine the tendency to form hydrates
- **Li⁺ and Na⁺**: These cations are larger and have a +1 charge, which means they will attract fewer water molecules compared to cations with a +2 charge.
- **Mg²⁺**: This cation is smaller and has a +2 charge, allowing it to attract more water molecules.
- **Ba²⁺**: This cation is larger than Mg²⁺ and will attract fewer water molecules compared to Mg²⁺.

**Hint:** The smaller the cation and the higher its charge, the greater its ability to attract water molecules.

### Step 5: Conclusion
Among the given options, **MgCl2 (with the cation Mg²⁺)** has the maximum tendency to form hydrates because it is a smaller cation with a higher charge compared to the others.

**Final Answer:** MgCl2 has the maximum tendency to form hydrates.