elements, lithium forms many salts that have some covalent bond character. What is a reason for this behavior?
A) The high first ionization energy of lithium makes sharing the electron easier than transferring it.
B) The high charge density on the lithium cation deforms nearby polarizable electron clouds.
C) The atomic radius of lithium enables it to share its valence electron effectively.
D) Since lithium has only 1 electron in its 2s orbital, it can accept an electron from another element.
E) Lithium's electronegativity is more like that of a non-metal than a metal.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The high charge density on the lithium cation deforms nearby polarizable electron clouds, making the bonding between lithium and anions more covalent in character. This is due to the small size of the lithium cation, which results in a strong electrostatic attraction to neighboring negative charges.

Elements, Lithium Forms Many Salts That Have Some Covalent Bond