Explain how vacancies are introduced in an ionic solid when a cation of higher valence is added as an impurity in it.

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Solution

When a cation of higher valence is added to an ionic solid as an impurity to it, the cation of higher valence replaces more than one cation of lower valence so as to keep the crystal electrically neutral. As a result, some sites become vacant. For example, when Sr²⁺ is added to NaCl, each Sr²⁺ion replaces two Na⁺ions. However, one Sr²⁺ion occupies the site of one Na⁺ ion and the other site remains vacant. Hence, vacancies are introduced.

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