Why are lithium salts commonly hydrated and those of the other alkali metal ions usually anhydrous ?

Why are lithium salts commonly hydrated and those of the other alkali

1.	Why are lithium salts commonly hydrated and those of the other alkali metal ions usually anhydrous ?
Answer» Solution :Because of smallest size among alkali metal , `Li^(+)` can polarize water MOLECULES more easily than the other alkali metal ions and hence get ATTACHED to lithium salts as water of crystallization . For example , lithium chloride CRYSTALLISES as LICL . `2H_(2)O` but sodium chloride crystallise as NaCl .