Question

"The chief factor responsible for the anomalous behavior of lithium is its small size."
Answer whether the above statement is true or false.
If true enter 1, else enter 0.

Answer 1

Anomalous behavior of lithiumis due to extremely small size of lithium. Its cation on account of small size and high nuclear charge exerts the greatest polarizing effect out of all alkali metals on negative ion. Consequently, lithium ion possesses remarkable tendency towards solvation and develops covalent character in its compounds. The ability to form covalent bond due to high electropositive character and the polarising power of $L{i}^{+}$ is comparable to that of magnesium ion. The $L{i}^{+}$ ion has a charge to size ratio comparable to that of $M{g}^{2+}$, and hence, the properties of some lithium compounds resemble those of magnesium compounds.