1. What is Ionic Radius?

Definition: The Ionic Radius is the radius of a monatomic ion in an ionic crystal structure.

Purpose: This calculator helps determine the ionic radius based on the ion's charge and polarising power.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( r_{ionic} \) — Ionic radius (meters)
• \( z \) — Ionic charge (Coulombs)
• \( P \) — Polarising power (Watts)

Explanation: The ionic radius is calculated as the square root of the ratio between the ionic charge and polarising power.

3. Importance of Ionic Radius Calculation

Details: Knowing the ionic radius helps predict crystal structures, lattice energies, and chemical properties of ionic compounds.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the ionic charge in Coulombs and polarising power in Watts. Both values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is polarising power?
A: Polarising power is the ability of a cation to attract the electron cloud towards itself. It's proportional to charge/size ratio.

Q2: What units should I use?
A: Use Coulombs (C) for ionic charge and Watts (W) for polarising power. The result will be in meters (m).

Q3: How accurate is this calculation?
A: This provides a theoretical estimate. Actual ionic radii may vary based on crystal environment and other factors.

Q4: Can I use this for anions?
A: Yes, but remember to use the appropriate sign for the ionic charge (negative for anions).

Q5: What's a typical range for ionic radii?
A: Most ionic radii range from 30-200 picometers (1 pm = 10^-12 m).