What are the charges on the metal ions of calcium and ferric chloride? Propose a reason why divalent or multivalent cations tend to reduce the water solubility, but monovalent cations do not have such a tendency.
The charge on metal ions of Calcium is 2+ and iron in ferric chloride is +3.
Small ions (kosmotropes) have high charge densities so they cause strong electrostatic ordering of nearby waters, breaking hydrogen bonds. As multivalent or divalent cations are small ions these cause breaking of hydrogen bonds and thus reduce the water solubility. In contrast, large ions (chaotropes) have low charge densities, and surrounding water molecules are largely hydrogen bonded.
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