Ebenezer Matric .Hr. Sec.

School

X- science (chemistry)

1.What is Ionization Energy?

In more technical terms we can describe ionization energy as the minimum energy
that an electron in a gaseous atom or ion has to absorb to come out of the influence of the
nucleus. It is also sometimes referred to as ionization potential and is usually an
endothermic process.

What we can deduce further is that ionization energy gives us an idea of the reactivity
of chemical compounds. It can also be used to determine the strength of chemical bonds.
It is measured either in units of electronvolts or kJ/mol.

Depending on the ionization of molecules which often leads to changes in molecular

geometry, ionization energy can be either adiabatic ionization energy or vertical
ionization energy.

First and Second Ionization Energy

First ionization energy is the energy that is required to remove the first electron from
a neutral atom. It is numerically same as the orbital energy of the electron but of opposite
sign.

For hydrogen, first orbit energy is –2.18 × 10– 18 J/atom (or – 1312.3 KJ/mole), and
the ionization energy is + 2.18 × 10–18 J/atom (or + 1312.3 KJ/mole).

The energy needed for the removal of the second electron away from the unipositive
ion is second ionization energy and so on.

For Example:

M + ∆H1st → M+ + e– ; ∆H1st = First Ionization energy

M+ + ∆H2nd →M2+ + e– ; ∆H2nd = Second Ionization energy, etc.,

Naturally removing the second electron, from an already positive ion will be difficult.
Hence second ionization energy will be larger than the first ionization energy. Third
ionization energy will be more than second ionization energy etc.

∆H1st < ∆H2nd < ∆H3rd < …..

 Because of the enhanced stability of half-filled and fully filled orbitals, removal of
electrons from such systems will have relatively higher ionization than other atoms and
ions.

For example, helium is more stable due to completely filled s-orbital than hydrogen.
So, the first ionization energy of Helium (2372 KJ/mole) is more than that of hydrogen
(1312 KJ/mole).

The first ionization energy of nitrogen (1402KJ/mole) is more than that of its near
neighbours, carbon (1086 KJ/mole) and oxygen (1313KJ/mole), because of the higher
stability due to half-filled orbitals. Chromium has half-filled s- and d-orbitals and so has
much more first ionization than titanium.

1.choose the correct answer

1.Ionization energy increases down a group because the number of protons increases and it's
more difficult to lose electrons because they are being pulled closer.

a) False B) true

2.Which of the following has the largest ionization energy?

a) Al b) N C) P D) Si

3. Which of the following elements has the lowest ionization energy?

a) Rubidium b) Sodium c) Cesium d) Lithium

4. Order the elements in decreasing ionization energy. Na, S, Al, F, K, O

a) AL , O , K , F, S , Na b) F, O, S, Al, Na, K

c) k, Na, Al, S, O, F d) Na, S , F , K, O , Al

5. What is the definition of ionization energy?

a) The amount of energy to attract or bond an electron

b) The energy required to add an electron

c) The energy required to remove an electron

d) None of the above is correct

6. Which of the following best explains why ionization energy decreases down a
group?

a) None of the above

 b) Ionization energy decreases because electrons are closer and require more
energy to remove

c) Ionization energy increases because electrons are closer and require more energy
to remove