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The ionic mobility of in water () is far higher than that of any other cation. The main reason is that

  1. Acharge is transferred by proton hopping along hydrogen-bonded water molecules, so the whole hydrated ion need not move
  2. B has the smallest ionic radius and is therefore the least hydrated cation
  3. C has the highest charge density and is attracted most strongly towards the cathode
  4. D moves through water as a bare proton without any hydration shell

Answer: A

In water the proton exists as and is strongly hydrated; if it moved like a normal ion its mobility would be similar to or . The anomalously high value arises from the Grotthuss mechanism: a proton on jumps to a neighbouring water molecule through a hydrogen bond, which then passes a proton on, so charge moves much faster than any single ion. shows a similar but smaller effect. The force on an ion in a field depends on its charge, not its charge density, so (C) is wrong.
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