The alkali metals form salt-like hydrides by the direct synthesis at elevated temperature. The thermal…

The alkali metals form salt-like hydrides by the direct synthesis at elevated temperature. The thermal stability of these hydrides decreases in which of the following orders?
  1. $\mathrm{CsH} > \mathrm{RbH} > \mathrm{KH} > \mathrm{NaH} > \mathrm{LiH}$
  2. $\mathrm{KH} > \mathrm{NaH} > \mathrm{LiH} > \mathrm{CsH} > \mathrm{RbH}$
  3. $\mathrm{NaH} > \mathrm{LiH} > \mathrm{KH} > \mathrm{RbH} > \mathrm{CsH}$
  4. $\mathrm{LiH} > \mathrm{NaH} > \mathrm{KH} > \mathrm{RbH} > \mathrm{CsH}$

Solution

Key Idea : Small anion forms stable compounds with small cation. The thermal stability of alkali metal hydrides decreases as : $\mathrm{LiH} > \mathrm{NaH} > \mathrm{KH} > \mathrm{RbH} > \mathrm{CsH}$ because the size of cation increases as : $\mathrm{Li}^{+} < \mathrm{Na}^{+} < \mathrm{K}^{+} < \mathrm{Rb}^{+} < \mathrm{Cs}^{+}$

Asked in: NEET 2008 (Screening)

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