Anion Affinity and Polarizing Power of Cations

IT is suggested that the ionization potential, I (first for univalent cations, second for divalent cations, third for trivalent cations, and so on), be used as a relative measure of the power of a cation to attract an anion (its ‘anion affinity’), and of its polarizing power. Its use thus may be demonstrated by some of the comparisons below. The general concept used here of the ability of cations to polarize and deform anions follows that discussed in the writings of Fajans 1,2 and of others, and the homopolar bonds referred to below are regarded as strongly polarized ionic bonds.