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NEET levelSingle correct optionDifficulty 1 of 3o1010

In water, $F X^{-}$ is a poorer nucleophile than $I X^{-}$ mainly because

A $F X^{-}$ is a weaker base than $I X^{-}$
B $F X^{-}$ is more polarisable than $I X^{-}$
C $F X^{-}$ is the largest halide ion
D $F X^{-}$ is strongly solvated by hydrogen bonding with water

Answer: D

Small, hard

F X^{-}

has a high charge density and is tightly held by a shell of hydrogen-bonded water molecules, which blunts its reactivity.

I X^{-}

is large, weakly solvated and highly polarisable.

F X^{-}

is in fact the strongest base of the halides and the smallest.

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