Question

Given below are two statements : one is labelled as
Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R).

Assertion (A) : Lithium salts are hydrated
Reason (R) : Lithium has higher polarising power than other alkali metal group members.

In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer of the options given below.

• A. Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
• B. (A) is correct but (R) is not correct
• C. (A) is not correct but (R) is correct
• D. Both (A) and (R) are correct but (R) is NOT the correct explanation of (A)

Answer 1

The correct option is D Both (A) and (R) are correct but (R) is NOT the correct explanation of (A)

Lithium has smallest size among the alkali metal. So charge to size ratio of lithium is very high. Due to this lithium salts are hydrated in nature. LiCl is deliquescent and crystallises as a hydrate, $LiCl.2H_{2}O$ whereas other alkai metal chlorides do not form hydrates. Polarising power is related to covlent character.