Topic 2: additional higher level

The first ionization energy is defined as the energy required to remove one
mole of electrons from one mole of gaseous atoms to provide one mole of
gaseous single charged ions.
The ionization energy for hydrogen represents the minimum energy required
for the removal of an electron from the 1s energy level.
Remember that energy levels converge or get closer together at higher
energy levels. Eventually they merge at the convergence limit n= . This
places the electron at the highest energy level where it is no longer in the
atom.
The energy required to remove the electron (ionization energy) can be
calculated using
E = hv where E = energy of a photon, h = the Plank constant (6.63 X 10-34Js),
v = frequency (Hz)
1 Hz = 1cylce per second or 1s-1
Eg The frequency of a line in the emission spectrum of hydrogen when an
electron falls from level 2 to level 1 is 2.47 X 10-15 Hz. Calculate the energy
difference between the 2 levels.
E = hv = (6.63 X 10-34Js)( 2.47 X 10-15 s-1) = 1.64 X 10-18 J
Eg
Calculate the 1st ionization energy of sodium if the frequency of the
convergence limit is 1.24 X 1015 s-1.
E = hv = (6.63 X 10-34Js)(1.24 X 1015 s-1) = 8.22 X 10-19J
This represents the energy required to remove 1 electron from one atom of
sodium. To determine the energy required for 1 mol of sodium ions multiply
by Avogadros constant 6.02 X 1023.
(8.22 X 10-19J/atom)( 6.02 X 1023atoms/mol) = 494844 J/mol = 495 kJmol-1
* units are often left out in the calculations but must appear in your answer
Eg Given that the wavelength of convergence for vanadium is 54411.7 cm-1,
calculate the first ionization energy for the element.
1. Take the reciprocal of the wavelength (ie, put 1 over the value)

1/54411.7 cm-1 = 1.838 X 10-5cm

2. This will give you a wavelength in cm, you need to convert the value
into m so divide by 100.
1.838 X 10-5cm/100 = 1.838 X 10-7m
3. Calculate the frequency using c = v
V= (3.00108 ms-1)/( 1.838 X 10-7m) = 1.6322 X1015s-1
* c = speed of light (3.00108 ms-1). The units of v are s-1
4. Calculate the energy to remove this single electron using E = hv (h =
Plancks constant see data book again). This will give you the energy
to remove one electron in Joules.
E= hv = (6.63 X 10-34Js)( 1.6322 X1015s-1) = 1.082 X10-18 J
5. Multiply the value by 6.02 x 10

23

(ie, Avogadros constant) to get the

value in J mol -1
(1.082 X10-18) (6.02 x 10

23

) = 651457 Jmol-1

6. Finally, divide by 1000 to get the answer in kJ mol -1.

651457 Jmol-1/1000 = 651 kJmol-1