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

Li+ Be2+
1.7 10
Na+ Mg2+ Al3+
1.0 3.9 10
K+ Ca2+ Sc3+ Ti3+ V2+ Cr2+ 3.8 Mn2+ Fe2+ 3.3 Co2+ 3.6 Ni2+ Cu+ 1.7 Zn2+ Ga3+
0.5 2.0 5.4 6.7 4.9 Cr3+ 7.9 4.5 Fe3+ 9.9 Co3+ 10 4.2 Cu2+ 3.8 3.7 7.8
Rb+ Sr2+ Ag+ 0.8 Cd2+ In3+ Sn2+ 1.4
0.4 1.5 2.2 4.7 Sn4+ 8.4
Cs+ Ba2+ Au+ 0.5 Hg+ 0.7 Tl+ Pb2+ 1.4
0.4 1.1 Au3+ 4.1 Hg2+ 1.9 0.4 Pb4+ 6.7

Polarizing Power Interpretation Solubility

0.0-1.0 Spectator ion. Negligible Lewis Acidity to water.
1.1-2.0 Very weak aqueous interactions.
2.1-5.0 Strongly polarizing. Notable increase in acidity of
aqueous solutions. Significant covalent bonding
5.1-10 Very polarizing and covalent.
Describing these as ions is problematic.
> 10 Oh, give it up. That’s not an ion.
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, it’s soluble, otherwise it’s 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.