Learning Objective: To learn about the factors affecting ion-induced dipole interaction strength.
Skill Level - Intermediate
Prerequisites:
Chapter: Intermolecular Forces
Sub-topic: Ion-Induced Dipole Interactions
Author's Note: Ion–induced dipolar interactions are temporary and vanish once the ion is removed from the vicinity of the nonpolar molecules. Still, these interactions are significant to cause distortions in protein structures to undergo conformational changes, improve the solubility of a polar salt in a nonpolar solvent, create superior semiconductors, and so on. This section covers the factors that affect the strength of ion-induced dipole interactions, so you know how to tweak for better properties when needed.
Factors affecting the strength of Ion - Induced Dipole interactions
1) Size, Charge and Polarizing power of the cation
An atom always has an equal number of protons in its nucleus and the outer nuclear electrons. However, when an atom loses an electron, the proton in its nucleus is more than the number of electrons. The excess number of protons (or the number of lost electrons) is denoted by a positive charge on the atom, and this positively charged atom is called a cation.
For example, the Na atom with 11 protons and 11 electrons is neutral. On losing an electron, it now has 11 protons and 10 electrons; the excess of the proton is denoted as Na+, a cation.

The loss of an electron also causes the nucleus to hold its remaining outermost electrons firmly. This attractive inward pull from the nucleus also....
Also, the size of the positive cations is always....
2) Polarizability of non-polar molecule
Both smaller and bigger atoms or molecules have circulating electron clouds that can be distorted using ions and polar molecules (also external electric fields). The distortion leads to the electron clouds shifting so that one area has more electron density than the other, inducing temporary polar terminals.
Due to the formation of the temporary dipoles,...
The ease with which the electron cloud of an atom.....
Smaller atoms do not have ....
Therefore, polarizability increases as....
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Next: Ion - Induced Dipole Interactions in Polar Molecules
