Question

Which has a stronger polarising force `Li^+` or `Be^(2+)`?

Answer 1

Which cation is (i) smaller; and (ii) which has the higher nuclear charge?

Explanation:

And of course the answer is `Be^(2+)` on both counts. And thus we predict that `Be^(2+)` is the stronger polarizer. I have no data with respect to `Be-C` or `Li-C` bond lengths. Dialkyl berylliums, the which would be fiendishly reactive, would tend to be more molecular than lithium alkyls, which are oligomeric.