Unlike the remainder of the Group 1A(1) 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 small lithium cation (due to its low atomic radius and high nuclear charge) deforms nearby polarizable electron clouds, resulting in some degree of covalent character in its salts.

Unlike the Remainder of the Group 1A(1) Elements, Lithium Forms