i)Atomic size

Across
Across aa period,the
period,the electrons
electrons are added to
are added to the
the orbital
orbital with
with the
the same
same principal
principal quantum
quantum number.
number.
Thus,the
Thus,the proton
proton number
number of of sulphur
sulphur isis higher
higher than
than aluminium.
aluminium.
The number of inner electrons remains
The number of inner electrons remains constant.constant.
The
The effective
effective nuclear
nuclear charge
charge of
of sulphur
sulphur isis higher
higher than
than aluminium.
aluminium.
Attraction between
Attraction between valence
valence electron
electron and nucleus is
and nucleus is stronger in sulphur
stronger in sulphur than
than in
in aluminium.
aluminium.
Valence
Valence electron
electron ofof sulphur
sulphur is
is much
much closer
closer and
and more
more tightly
tightly to
to the
the nucleus
nucleus compared
compared toto aluminium.
aluminium.
Electron in sulphur
Electron in sulphur are
are pulled
pulled closer
closer to
to the
the nucleus
nucleus than in aluminium
than in aluminium
Therefore,atomic
Therefore,atomic size
size of
of sulphur is smaller
sulphur is smaller than
than aluminium
aluminium


 Atomic
Atomic size
size

 Al:184
Al:184 pm
pm

 S:100
S:100 pm
pm

ii)Electronegativity

Across
Across aa period,the proton number
period,the proton number ofof sulphur
sulphur is
is higher
higher than
than aluminium.
aluminium.
The
The effective
effective nuclear
nuclear charge
charge of
of sulphur
sulphur is
is higher
higher than
than aluminium.
aluminium.
Electron
Electron in
in sulphur
sulphur are
are pulled
pulled closer
closer to
to the
the nucleus
nucleus than
than in
in aluminium.
aluminium.
Atomic
Atomic size
size of
of sulphur
sulphur is
is smaller
smaller than
than aluminium
aluminium
Tendency
Tendency of of attract
attract bonding
bonding electrons
electrons in sulphur is
in sulphur is higher
higher than
than aluminium
aluminium
Therefore,the
Therefore,the electronegativity
electronegativity was
was developed
developed byby Linus
Linus Pauling
Pauling and
and on
on his
his scale
scale aluminium
aluminium has
has value
value of
of 1.61
1.61 and
and
chlorine
chlorine with
with 3.16
3.16 (reference
(reference 2)
2)

iii) Ionisation energy

Across
Across aa period,the
period,the proton
proton number
number of of sulphur
sulphur is is higher
higher than
than aluminium.
aluminium.
The
The effective
effective nuclear
nuclear charge of sulphur
charge of sulphur is is higher
higher than
than aluminium.
aluminium.
Attraction
Attraction between
between valence electron and
valence electron and nucleus
nucleus isis stronger
stronger in
in sulphur
sulphur than
than in aluminium.
in aluminium.
Electrons
Electrons inin sulphur
sulphur are
are pulled
pulled closer
closer to
to the
the nucleus than in
nucleus than in aluminium.
aluminium.
Atomic
Atomic size
size of
of sulphur
sulphur is
is smaller
smaller than aluminium.
than aluminium.
So,
So, valence
valence electrons
electrons are
are more
more difficult
difficult to
to be
be removed.
removed.
Thus,
Thus, more
more energy
energy is
is required
required to
to remove valence electrons
remove valence electrons inin sulphur
sulphur than
than in
in aluminium.
aluminium.
Therefore,
Therefore, thethe ionisation energy of
ionisation energy of sulphur
sulphur is is higher
higher than
than aluminium.
aluminium.

Ionisation energy, (1
Ionisation energy, (1stst IE)(reference 3)
IE)(reference 3)
Al = +577.54 kJ mol
Al = +577.54 kJ mol-1
-1

SS == +999.59
+999.59 kJ
kJ mol
-1
mol-1

’
Element Comparison:Aluminium vs Sulphur(13Al vs 16S)

Thus, more energy is required to remove valence electrons in sulphur than in aluminium.
Therefore, the ionisation energy of sulphur is higher than aluminium.

Ionisation energy, (1st IE)

Al = +577.54 kJ mol-1
S = +999.59 kJ mol-1

3. First Ionisation Energy

- The minimum energy (In kJ mol-1) required to remove one more electron from one mole of neutral
gaseous aluminium atom from its ground state to form one mole positive gaseous aluminium ion.

- Al (g) – Al + (g) + e- 1st IE – 577 kJ mol-1

Second Ionisation Energy

- The energy required to remove one mole electron from one mole of positive aluminium / Al 2+ ion
in gaseous state to form two postitive aluminium ion in gaseous state.
- Al (g) – Al 2+ (g) + e- 2nd IE – 1816.68 kJ mol-1

Atomic Size and Ionic Radius (Al3+ vs Al)

- Al3+ is formed when Al atom loses 3 electrons.

- The electron in 3s2 3p1 orbitas of aluminium atom (1s2 2s2 3s2 3p1) is removed to form aluminium
(III) ion, Al3+.
- When the electron is removed from +ne valence shell, the effective nuclear charge of Al 3+ ion is
higher than Al atom.
- The electron-electron repulsions will decrease.
- As as result, the remaining electrons of Al3+ ion are pulled closer together to the nucleus due to
the greater nucleus attraction.
- Therefore, Al3+ ion is smaller than Al.

Uses of Aluminium

- Aluminium has been replacing copper wiring in transformers and almost all updated wiring
systems because of its low density and can be formed intro wires more easier.
(https://www.metalsupermarkets.com/common-uses-aluminium)

- Aluminium is used in transportation such as high speed rall system like the magleu is Shanghai
because the metal can reduce the weight of the train, cutting down on friction resistance.