2.

13 Ionisation Energies
Definition :First ionisation energy
The first ionisation energy is the energy required when one mole of gaseous
atoms forms one mole of gaseous ions with a single positive charge
This is represented by the equation:

H(g)

H+(g) + e-

Always gaseous

Be(g)

The equation for 1st ionisation energy always

follows the same pattern.
It does not matter if the atom does not normally
form a +1 ion or is not gaseous

O(g)

Be+(g) + eO+(g) + e-

All values of ionisations are positive and therefore endothermic. This is because energy must be
supplied to overcome the electrostatic attractive force between the nucleus and the electron.

Definition :Second ionisation energy

The second ionisation energy is the energy required when one mole of gaseous ions with a
single positive charge forms one mole of gaseous ions with a double positive charge

Ti+ (g)

This is represented by the equation:

Ti2+(g) + e-

Factors that affect Ionisation energy

There are three main factors
1.The attraction of the nucleus
(The more protons in the nucleus the greater the attraction)
2. The distance of the electrons from the nucleus
(The bigger the atom the further the outer electrons are from the nucleus and
the weaker the attraction to the nucleus)
3. Shielding of the attraction of the nucleus
(An electron in an outer shell is repelled by electrons in complete inner shells,
weakening the attraction of the nucleus)

Many questions can be

answered by application
of these factors

Successive ionisation energies

An element can have as many successive ionisation energies as it has electrons
The patterns in successive ionisation energies for an element give us important
information about the electronic structure for that element.
Why are successive ionisation energies always larger?
The second ionisation energy of an element is always
bigger than the first ionisation energy. When the first
electron is removed a positive ion is formed. The ion
increases the attraction on the remaining electrons and so
the energy required to remove the next electron is larger.
Each successive ionisation energy is bigger than the
previous one for the same reason.
Some of the increases are much bigger, however, and
these big jumps gives us evidence for the main principle
electron shells.

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2
3
4
5
No of electrons removed

How are ionisation energies linked to the main electron energy levels ?
There is a big jump between the 4th
and 5th ionisation energies.
Explanation
The fifth electron is in a inner main
shell closer to the nucleus and
therefore attracted much more
strongly by the nucleus than the
fourth electron.
It also does not have any shielding by
inner complete shells of electron so is
easier to remove.

Ionisation
energy

Notice the big

jump between 4
and 5.
1

2
3
4
5
No of electrons removed

Example: What group must this element be in?

Ionisation
energy kJ mol-1

590

1150

4940

6480

8120

Here there is a big jump between the 2nd and 3rd

ionisations energies which means that this
element must be in group 2 of the periodic table
as the 3rd electron is removed from an electron
shell closer to the nucleus with less shielding and
so has a larger ionisation energy

The first Ionisation energy of the elements

The pattern in the first ionisation energy of each successive element in the periodic table also gives
us useful information about electronic structure

2500

The shape of the graph for periods two and

three is similar. A repeating pattern across a
period is called periodicity.

He
Ne

Ionisation energy kJ mol-1

2000
F

Ar

1500

Cl
O

Be

1000

Si

Mg

Ca

B
500

Li
0

Na

Al

10
Atomic number

K
15

20

Evidence for the main electron energy levels

The noble gases are always at the maximum peak for each period, but there is a decrease in ionisation
energy down the group. (true of all groups). This is because as one goes down the group the outer
electrons become further from the nucleus and become more shielded from the nuclear pull by complete
inner shells
There is a large drop each time between the group 0 elements and the group1 elements.
This is because the element in group 1 will have its outer electron in a new shell further from the
nucleus and is more shielded. So the group 1 element is easier to remove and has a lower ionisation
energy.

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First Ionisation Energy

He
Ne

H
2500

Ar
Kr

Period 2

Na

1500

period 3

1000
500

Period 1

Li

2000

Xe

period 4

Rb

Period 5

0
1

Group Number
Notice the drop in ionisation energy down each group
As one goes down a group, the outer electrons are found in shells further from the nucleus and are more
shielded so the attraction of the nucleus becomes smaller
Helium has the biggest first ionisation energy because its first electron is in the first shell closest to the
nucleus and has no shielding effects from inner shells. He has a bigger first ionisation energy than H as it
has one more proton.
Evidence for the electron sub energy levels

Ar
There is in general an increase in ionisation energy across a period. This is
because as one goes across a period , the number of protons increases
making the effective attraction of the nucleus greater. The electrons are being
added to the same shell which has the same shielding effect and the electrons
are pulled in closer to the nucleus.

Cl
P
Si

Mg

There are two small drops in the general trend, however, that provide further
evidence for the existence of sub energy levels.

Na

Al

Notice the small drop between the group 2 elements and group 3 elements (Be +
B , Mg + Al). Al is starting to fill a 3p sub shell, whereas Mg has its outer electrons
in the 3s sub shell. The electrons in the 3p subshell are slightly easier to remove
because the 3p electron sub shell is slightly higher in energy and they are also
slightly shielded by the 3s electrons.

3p
3s

3p

P
Si

Mg

Na

Al

3s

Magnesium
1s22s22p63s2

Aluminium
1s22s22p63s23p1

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Why is there a small drop from P to S?

Ar

With sulphur there are 4 electrons in the 3p sub shell and the 4th is
starting to doubly fill the first 3p orbital.
When the second electron is added to a 3p orbital there is a slight
repulsion between the two negatively charged electrons which makes
the second electron easier to remove.

Cl
P
Si

Mg

3p

3p

3s

phosphorus

Na

Al

3s
1s2 2s2

Two electrons of opposite spin in

the same orbital

2p63s23p3

sulphur 1s2 2s2 2p63s23p4

Patterns in the second ionisation energy.

2nd Ionisation energy

(kJ/mol)

If the graph of second ionisation or each successive element is plotted then a similar pattern to the first
ionisation energy is observed but all the elements will have shifted one to the left.
5000
4500
4000
3500
3000
2500
2000
1500
1000

Na

Ar
P

Al
Mg
10

12

S
Cl

Si
14
16
Atomic Number

18

20

The group 1 elements are now at the peaks of the graph

Lithium would now have the second largest ionisation of all elements as its second electron
would be removed from the first 1s shell closest to the nucleus and has no shielding effects
from inner shells. Li has a bigger second ionisation energy than He as it has more protons.

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Questions on Ionisation Energies

1) What is meant by the term first ionisation energy?
2) Write an equation to illustrate the process which occurs during the first ionisation of neon.
3) Explain why the value of the first ionisation energy of magnesium is higher than that of sodium.
4) Explain why the value of the first ionisation energy of neon is higher than that of sodium.
5) Write an equation to illustrate the process occurring when the second ionisation energy of magnesium is
measured.
6) Explain why the third ionisation energy of magnesium is very much larger than the second ionisation
energy of magnesium.
7) The Ne atom and the Mg2+ ion have the same number of electrons. Give two reasons why the first ionisation
energy of neon is lower than the third ionisation energy of magnesium.
8) Sketch a graph to show the first 5 ionisation energies of aluminium,
9) State and explain the trend in the first ionisation energy of the elements Mg to Ba in Group II.
10) Explain why the second ionisation energy of sodium is greater than the second ionisation energy of
magnesium.
11) Explain why the second ionisation energy of magnesium is greater than the first ionisation energy of
magnesium.
12) Use your understanding of electron arrangement to complete the table by suggesting a value for the third
ionisation energy of magnesium.
Ionisation energies of
magnesium

kJ mol-1

736

1450

10500

13629

13) State which of the first, second or third ionisations of aluminium would produce an ion
with the electron configuration 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s1
14) Explain why the ionisation energy of every element is endothermic
15) Explain why the second ionisation energy of carbon is higher than the first ionisation energy of carbon.
16) Explain which element has the largest first ionisation energy
17) Identify the element in Period 2 that has the highest first ionisation energy and give its electron
configuration.
18) Identify the element in Period 1 or 2 that has the highest second ionisation energy
19 ) Why is the first ionisation energy of krypton is lower than the first ionisation energy of argon.
20) Explain why the first ionisation energy of rubidium is lower than the first ionisation energy of sodium.
21) Give one reason why the second ionisation energy of silicon is lower than the second ionisation energy
of aluminium.
22) Predict the element in Period 3 that has the highest second ionisation energy. Give a reason for your
answer.
23) State and explain the general trend in the values of the first ionisation energies of the elements Na to Ar.
24) State how, and explain why, the values of the first ionisation energies of the elements Al and S deviate
from the general trend.
25) Explain why the first ionisation energy of Boron is lower than that of Beryllium
26) There is a similar general trend in first ionisation energies for the Period 4 elements gallium to krypton to
that in period 3. State how selenium deviates from this general trend and explain your answer
27) The table below gives the successive ionisation energies of an element. Deduce the
group in the Periodic Table that contains this element
Ionisation energies

kJ mol-1

590

1150

4940

6480

8120

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Frist Ionisation energy kJ mol-1

28 The sketch graph below shows the trend in first ionization energies for some elements in Periods
two and three.

D
B
A

C
I
G
H

Atomic number
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)

Select, from the elements A to I, the one that has atoms with five p electrons
Select, from the elements A to I, which one is a member of group 3
Select, from the elements A to I, which one form a +2 ion
Select, from the elements A to I, which one is likely to be very unreactive.
Select, from the elements A to I, which one(s) normally forms four covalent bonds per atom
Name Element D
What would the be the formula of the compound formed between element F and C
29) What is wrong/ incomplete with the answers to the following question Which element has the
largest 1st Ionisation energy?
a) Heliums outer electron is close to the nucleus with little shielding so hard to remove
b) Helium is a noble gas and has a full shell of electrons. It would lose stability if an electron was removed.
c) Helium has a really strong ionic bond between its electron and nucleus because it has no shielding.

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