Chapter 8, Problem 8.102PAE

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:The relation between the polarizibility of an element with the periodic trends in the periodic table.

Concept introduction:When an element is placed between tow charged plates, the latter will attract the positive nuclei toward the negative plate and the negative electron towards the positive plate.

In consequence, the centers of gravity of positive and negative charges will no longer be coincident. There will be an electrical dipole in the element to form an electrical dipole. As a whole the nucleus which has less attraction with the outermost electronswill have more polarisibility. Thus polarisibility of an element depends upon the number of electrons present and also the screening effect of s, p, d and f orbitalsof the element.

The screening effect (i.e. to screen the outermost electron from nucleus) of the s, p, d and f orbitals are $s\rangle p\rangle d\rangle f$. Hence the polarization of the elements having electrons in f orbital will be maximum. The polarization effect of the electrons in different orbital are $s\langle p\langle d\langle f$.