Correlation between electronic polarizabilities and ionic radii in alkali halides

An analysis of the electronic polarizabilities and sizes of ions in alkali halides has been carried out by considering a relationship according to which the electronic polarizability of an ion should vary as the n th power of its radius. The values of crystal radii, polarizabilities and the exponent “n”have been calculated using the free ion data reported by Pauling. The values of “n” are found to be nearly 3 in most of the crystals suggesting the validity of the polarizability radius cube relation. The polarizabilities and crystal radii calculated in the present study agree well with those estimated by earlier investigators.