What is the correct order of ionic mobility of the following ions in an aqueous solution?
In an aqueous solution, the degree of hydration of an ion depends on its charge density (charge-to-size ratio). The sizes of the bare alkali metal ions increase down the group: . As a result, the smaller ion is the most extensively hydrated, forming the largest hydrated ion, whereas the larger ion is the least hydrated, forming the smallest hydrated ion. Since ionic mobility is inversely proportional to the effective size of the hydrated ion, the smallest hydrated ion () will have the highest mobility, and the largest hydrated ion () will have the lowest mobility. Therefore, the correct order of ionic mobility in aqueous solution is .
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