Polarizing Power of Common Cations, in (Charge)/(Ionic Radius in )2

Li+
1.7
Na+
1.0
K+
0.5
Rb+
0.4
Cs+
0.4

Be2+
10
Mg2+
3.9
Ca2+
2.0
Sr2+
1.5
Ba2+
1.1

Sc3+
5.4

Ti3+
6.7

V2+
4.9

Cr2+ 3.8
Cr3+ 7.9

Mn2+ Fe2+ 3.3

4.5
Fe3+ 9.9

Co2+ 3.6
Co3+ 10

Interpretation
Spectator ion. Negligible Lewis Acidity to water.
Very weak aqueous interactions.

2.1-5.0

Strongly polarizing. Notable increase in acidity of

aqueous solutions. Significant covalent bonding
Very polarizing and covalent.
Describing these as ions is problematic.
Oh, give it up. Thats not an ion.

> 10

Cu+ 1.7
Cu2+ 3.8
Ag+ 0.8
Au+ 0.5
Au3+ 4.1

Polarizing Power
0.0-1.0
1.1-2.0

5.1-10

Ni2+
4.2

Zn2+
3.7
Cd2+
2.2
Hg+ 0.7
Hg2+ 1.9

Al3+
10
Ga3+
7.8
In3+
4.7
Tl+
0.4

Sn2+ 1.4
Sn4+ 8.4
Pb2+ 1.4
Pb4+ 6.7

Solubility
Generally very soluble with all anions*
Generally soluble, solubility limited with small -1
ions. Insoluble with -2 and -3 ions.
Somewhat soluble with -1 anions, insoluble with small
-1 anions (OH-, F-) and -2 and -3 anions.
Somewhat soluble (if at all) only with large -1 anions.
Often unstable in solution.
Generally insoluble unless a molecular substance.

*Note that the soft purple and blue ions to the right of the periodic table are almost always insoluble in their interactions with soft
anions (S2-, Cl-, Br-, I-, SO42-, to a lesser extent CO32-) because they form good soft-soft covalent interactions and are poorly solvated by
water. They therefore act as exceptions to the general rule If one or both ions are + or -1, its soluble, otherwise its not.

Small ions: Because of their small size, these act as if they were one charge higher: OH-, F- (both act like -2), O2- (acts like -3)

The cutoff for this chart was a ratio > 10, which is why Si4+, B3+, etc. are not included. These species bind very covalently.