JEE Main Chemistry question

Not in JEE Main or NEET syllabus

Lithium is strongest reducing agent among alkali metals due to which of the following factor?

(A)Ionization energy
(B)Electron affinity
(C)Hydration energyCorrect
(D)Lattice energy

Answer: (C)

Solution

Although lithium has the highest ionisation energy among the alkali metals (which alone would suggest it should be the weakest reducing agent in the gas phase), its exceptionally high hydration energy (due to its very small ionic size) more than compensates for this in aqueous solution, making the overall reduction

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Question ID VK-137842