Ionisation

Energy
Chong Zhi Ling & Chang
Jie Ying
Ionization Energy
➔ is the energy required to remove an electron from a specific atom.
➔ measured in kJ/molkJ/mol
➔ As more electrons are added to a nucleus, the outer electrons
become shielded from the nucleus by the inner shell electrons. This is
called electron shielding.

➔ Down the group in the periodic table, ionisation energy decreases

because of the screening effect / shielding effect
First ionisation energy

❖ The first ionisation energy is the minimum energy requied to remove from 1 mole of
elecrtron from 1 mole atom at gaseous state to form a unipositive ion.
❖ Eg. M(g) M+(g) + e
❖ Three factors are involved in determining in ionisation energy of an element:
➢ The distance of valence electrons from the nucleus.
➢ The magnitude of the nuclear charge.
➢ The effectiveness of the shielding among the orbital
❖ GENERALLY- The nuclear charge increases from sodium to chlorine while the
atomic size decreases. Hence, the distance between the valence electrons and the
nucleus is getting shorter.
❖ In addition, the shielding or screening effect remains almost constant across the
period since electrons are filled in the same shell.
❖ In addition, the shielding or screening effect remains almost constant across
the period since electrons are filled in the same shell.

❖ All these factor contribute to an increase in ionisation energy across the

period as valence electrons become more difficult to be removed.
 Second ionisation energy
★ the minimum energy required to remove 1 mol of electrons from 1
mol of unipositive ion in the gaseous state
★ M+(g) –> M2+(g) + e, ΔH = second ionisation energy

Third ionisation energy

★ M2+(g) –> M3+(g) + e, ΔH = third ionisation energy

Ionisation energy across a period 2 and period 3

➢ The first ionisation energy increase with increasing proton numbers for the elements
➢ atomic size decreases, nuclear charge increases and the screening effect remains the
same).
➢ For example:
● First ionisation of Be (period 2) and Mg (period 3) is higher than expected because
the first electron to be removed is from a fully filled s orbital.
● Be: 1s2 2s2 Mg: 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2
● First ionisation of N (period 2) and P (period 3) is higher than expected because the
first electron to be removed is from a half orbital.
● N: 1s2 2s2 2p3 P: 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p3