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 from the options given below :

Options

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

• (A) is correct but (R) is not correct.

• (A) is not correct but (R) is correct.

• Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

Answer 1

Both (A) and (R) are correct but (R) is NOT the correct explanation of (A).

Explanation:

Among the alkali metals, lithium has the smallest size. As a result, the charge to radius ratio of Li is very high, and the lithium salts are hydrated in nature.

Li has the strongest polarising strength in its group due to its lowest size, which is related to its covalent character.