ELECTRON STRUCTURE

RE-CAP
IONISATION ENERGY

CONTENTS
• What is Ionisation Energy?
• Definition of 1st Ionisation Energy
• What affects Ionisation Energy?
• General variation across periods
• Variation down groups
• Variation in the first twelve elements
• Successive Ionisation Energies
• Questions
• Check list
 IONISATION ENERGY

Before you start it would be helpful to…

• Recall the electronic configurations of the first 36 elements

• Recall the properties of the three main sub-atomic particles
 WHAT IS IONISATION ENERGY?
-
Ionisation
IonisationEnergy
Energyisisaameasure
measureof ofthe
theamount
amountof ofenergy
energy
needed to remove electrons from atoms.
needed to remove electrons from atoms.
As
Aselectrons
electronsare arenegatively
negativelycharged
chargedandandprotons
protonsininthe
the
nucleus are positively charged, there will be an attraction
nucleus are positively charged, there will be an attraction
between
betweenthem.
them.The
Thegreater
greaterthe
thepull
pullof
ofthe
thenucleus,
nucleus,the
the
harder it will be to pull an electron away from an atom.
harder it will be to pull an electron away from an atom.
Attraction between
the nucleus and an
electron
 WHAT IS IONISATION ENERGY?
-
Ionisation Energy is a measure of the amount of energy
needed to remove electrons from atoms.
As electrons are negatively charged and protons in the
nucleus are positively charged, there will be an attraction
between them. The greater the pull of the nucleus, the
harder it will be to pull an electron away from an atom.
Attraction between
the nucleus and an
electron

FIRST IONISATION ENERGY - Definition

The energy required to remove ONE MOLE of electrons (to infinity) from ONE
MOLE of gaseous atoms to form ONE MOLE of gaseous positive ions.

e.g. Na(g) Na+(g) + e-

Make
Makesure
sureyou
you
Al(g) Al+(g) + e- write
write in the(g)
in the (g)
 WHAT AFFECTS IONISATION ENERGY?
The value of the 1st Ionisation Energy depends on the electronic structure

Hydrogen Helium Lithium

1310 kJ mol-1 2370 kJ mol-1

519 kJ mol-1

The value for helium is higher than that for hydrogen because there are now two
protons in the nucleus. The nuclear charge is greater so the pull on the outer
electrons is larger. More energy will be needed to pull an electron out of the atom.
 WHAT AFFECTS IONISATION ENERGY?
The value of the 1st Ionisation Energy depends on the electronic structure

Hydrogen Helium Lithium

1310 kJ mol-1 2370 kJ mol-1

519 kJ mol-1

The value for helium is higher than that for hydrogen because there are now two
protons in the nucleus. The nuclear charge is greater so the pull on the outer
electrons is larger. More energy will be needed to pull an electron out of the atom.

Lithium atoms have 3 protons so you would expect the pull on electrons to be
greater. However, the 1st Ionisation Energy of lithium is lower than that of helium
because…
• Filled inner shells exert a SHIELDING EFFECT; lowers the effective nuclear pull
• FURTHER AWAY from the nucleus = lower nuclear attraction for an electron
THE SHIELDING EFFECT
 Variation in 1st Ionisation Energy - PERIODS

1st Ionisation Energy shows a ‘general increase’ across a given period

 Variation in 1st Ionisation Energy - PERIODS

1st
1stIonisation
IonisationEnergy
Energyvalues
valuesshow
showaaperiodic
periodic
trend.
trend. There is a ‘general increase’ acrossaa
There is a ‘general increase’ across
period
periodbefore
beforethe
thevalue
valuedrops
dropsdramatically
dramaticallyforfor
2500 the start of another period.
the start of another period.
He
The
Thevalues
valuesget
getsmaller
smallerdown
downgroups
groupsasasthe
the
2000
electron
electron removed comes from an orbitalfurther
removed comes from an orbital further
Ne from the nucleus - there is more shielding.
from the nucleus - there is more shielding.

1500
Ar
Kr
1000
Xe

500

0
 Variation in 1st Ionisation Energy - GROUPS

GROUP I Value decreases down the Group

despite an increased nuclear charge the outer s electron is easier to remove
this is due to increased shielding and greater distance from the nucleus
the outer electron is held less strongly and easier to remove

Li Na K

519 kJ mol-1

494 kJ mol-1 418 kJ mol-1

 Variation in 1st Ionisation Energy - GROUPS

GROUP I Value decreases down the Group

despite an increased nuclear charge the outer s electron is easier to remove
this is due to increased shielding and greater distance from the nucleus
the outer electron is held less strongly and easier to remove

Li Na K

519 kJ mol-1

494 kJ mol-1 418 kJ mol-1

GROUP II Similar trend to Group I

Group II values are greater than their Group I neighbours
increased nuclear charge = stronger pull on electron
more energy required to remove an electron
 Variation in 1st Ionisation Energy

HYDROGEN EXPLANATION
EXPLANATION
Despite
Despite having
having aa nuclear
nuclear
charge
charge ofof only
only 1+,
1+,
Hydrogen
Hydrogen has has aa relatively
relatively
1st IONISATION ENERGY / kJmol-1

high
high 1st
1st Ionisation
Ionisation Energy
Energy
as
as its electron is closest to
its electron is closest to
the nucleus and has
the nucleus and has no no
shielding.
shielding.

1s

ATOMIC NUMBER
1
 Variation in 1st Ionisation Energy
1s
HELIUM EXPLANATION
EXPLANATION
Helium
Helium has
has aa much
much higher
higher
value
value because
because of of the
the extra
extra
proton
proton in
in the
the nucleus.
nucleus. The
The
1st IONISATION ENERGY / kJmol-1

additional
additional charge
charge provides
provides
aa stronger
stronger attraction for
attraction for the
the
electrons making
electrons making themthem
harder
harder to
to remove.
remove.

1s

ATOMIC NUMBER
2
 Variation in 1st Ionisation Energy
1s
LITHIUM EXPLANATION
EXPLANATION
There
There isis aa substantial
substantial drop drop
in
in the
the value
value forfor Lithium.
Lithium.
This
This is
is because
because the the extra
extra
1st IONISATION ENERGY / kJmol-1

electron
electron hashas gone
gone intointo an
an
orbital in the next energy
orbital in the next energy
level.
level. Despite
Despite the the increased
increased
nuclear
nuclear charge,
charge, the the
effective
effective nuclear
nuclear charge
charge is is
1s
less
less because
because of of the
the
shielding
shielding effect
effect of
of filled
filled
inner
inner 1s energy level. The
1s energy level. The
2s electron is also further
2s electron is also further
away
away from
from thethe nucleus.
nucleus. ItIt is is
held
held less
less strongly
strongly and and
needs
needs less
less energy
energy for for
removal.
removal.
1s 2s

ATOMIC NUMBER

3
 Variation in 1st Ionisation Energy
1s
BERYLLIUM EXPLANATION
EXPLANATION
The
The value
value for
for Beryllium
Beryllium is is
higher
higher than
than for
for Lithium
Lithium due
due to
to
the increased nuclear
the increased nuclear
1st IONISATION ENERGY / kJmol-1

charge.
charge. There
There isis no
no extra
extra
shielding.
shielding.

1s

1s 2s

1s 2s

ATOMIC NUMBER
4
 Variation in 1st Ionisation Energy
1s
BORON EXPLANATION
EXPLANATION
There
There is
is aa DROP
DROP in in the
the value
value
for
for Boron.
Boron. This
This is
is because
because
the
the extra electron has gone
extra electron has gone
1st IONISATION ENERGY / kJmol-1

into one of the 2p orbitals.

into one of the 2p orbitals.
The
The increased
increased shielding
shielding
makes
makes the
the electron
electron easier
easier to
to
remove
remove
ItIt was
was evidence
evidence suchsuch as
as this
this
1s that confirmed the existence
that confirmed the existence
of
of sub-shells.
sub-shells. IfIf there
there hadn’t
hadn’t
been
been any any sub-shell,
sub-shell, thethe value
value
would
would have have been
been higher
higher than
than
1s 2s that
that of of Beryllium.
Beryllium.
1s 2s 2p

1s 2s

ATOMIC NUMBER
5
 Variation in 1st Ionisation Energy
1s
CARBON EXPLANATION
EXPLANATION
The
The value
value increases
increases again
again
for
for Carbon
Carbon duedue to
to the
the
increased nuclear charge.
increased nuclear charge.
1st IONISATION ENERGY / kJmol-1

The
The extra
extra electron
electron does
does not
not
pair
pair up
up with
with the
the previous
previous one one
in
in the
the same
same orbital
orbital but
but
occupies
occupies another
another of of the
the 2p
2p
orbitals. This gives a
orbitals. This gives a lower lower
1s energy
energy configuration
configuration
because
because there
there is
is less
less
1s 2s 2p repulsion
repulsion between
between the the
negatively
negatively charged
charged particles.
particles.
1s 2s This
This is
is known
known as as Hund’s
Hund’s
Rule.
Rule.
1s 2s 2p

1s 2s

ATOMIC NUMBER
6
 Variation in 1st Ionisation Energy
1s
NITROGEN EXPLANATION
EXPLANATION
The
The value
value increases
increases again
again
for
for Nitrogen
Nitrogen due
due to
to the
the
increased nuclear charge.
increased nuclear charge.
1st IONISATION ENERGY / kJmol-1

As
As before,
before, the
the extra
extra electron
electron
goes
goes into
into the
the vacant
vacant 2p
2p
orbital.
orbital. There
There are
are now
now three
three
unpaired
unpaired electrons.
electrons.
1s 2s 2p
1s

1s 2s 2p

1s 2s

1s 2s 2p

1s 2s

ATOMIC NUMBER
7
 Variation in 1st Ionisation Energy
1s
OXYGEN EXPLANATION
EXPLANATION
There
There isis aa DROP
DROP in in the
the value
value
for
for Oxygen.
Oxygen. The The extra
extra
electron
electron has paired up
has paired up with
with
1st IONISATION ENERGY / kJmol-1

one of the electrons already

one of the electrons already
in
in one
one ofof the
the 2p2p orbitals.
orbitals. The
The
repulsive
repulsive force
force beteen
beteen thethe
two
two paired-up
paired-up electrons
electrons
1s 2s 2p
means
means that
that less
less energy
energy is is
1s
required to remove
required to remove one ofone of
1s 2s 2p them.
them.
1s 2s 2p

1s 2s

1s 2s 2p

1s 2s

ATOMIC NUMBER
8
 Variation in 1st Ionisation Energy
1s
FLUORINE EXPLANATION
EXPLANATION
The
The value
value increases
increases again
again
for
for Fluorine
Fluorine due
due to
to the
the
increased nuclear charge.
increased nuclear charge.
1st IONISATION ENERGY / kJmol-1

The
The 2p2p orbitals
orbitals are
are almost
almost
1s 2s 2p full.
full.

1s 2s 2p
1s
1s 2s 2p

1s 2s 2p

1s 2s

1s 2s 2p

1s 2s

ATOMIC NUMBER
9
 Variation in 1st Ionisation Energy
1s
NEON EXPLANATION
EXPLANATION

1s 2s 2p
The
The value
value increases
increases again
again
for
for Neon
Neon due
due toto the
the
increased
increased nuclear charge.
nuclear charge.
1st IONISATION ENERGY / kJmol-1

The
The 2p
2p orbitals
orbitals are
are now
now full
full
1s 2s 2p so
so the
the next
next electron
electron in
in will
will
have
have to
to go
go into
into the
the higher
higher
energy
energy 3s3s orbital.
orbital.
1s 2s 2p
1s
1s 2s 2p

1s 2s 2p

1s 2s

1s 2s 2p

1s 2s

ATOMIC NUMBER
10
 Variation in 1st Ionisation Energy
1s
SODIUM EXPLANATION
EXPLANATION

1s 2s 2p
There
There isis aa substantial
substantial dropdrop in
in
the
the value
value for for Sodium.
Sodium. This This is
is
because the extra
because the extra electron electron
1st IONISATION ENERGY / kJmol-1

has
has gone
gone intointo anan orbital
orbital in
in
the
the next
next energy
energy level.
level.
1s 2s 2p
Despite
Despite the
the increased
increased
nuclear
nuclear charge,
charge, the the effective
effective
1s 2s 2p
nuclear
nuclear charge
charge is is less
less
1s
because of the shielding
because of the shielding
1s 2s 2p effect
effect of
of filled
filled inner
inner 1s,1s, 2s
2s
1s 2s 2p and
and 2p
2p energy
energy levels.
levels.

1s 2s

1s 2s 2p

1s 2s
1s 2s 2p 3s

ATOMIC NUMBER
11
 Variation in 1st Ionisation Energy
1s
MAGNESIUM EXPLANATION
EXPLANATION

1s 2s 2p
The
The value
value for
for Magnesium
Magnesium is is
higher
higher than
than for
for Sodium
Sodium due
due
to the increased nuclear
to the increased nuclear
1st IONISATION ENERGY / kJmol-1

charge.
charge. There
There isis no
no extra
extra
shielding.
shielding.
1s 2s 2p
The
The trend
trend is
is similar
similar to
to that
that at
at
the
the start
start of
of the
the 2nd
2nd period.
period.
1s 2s 2p
1s
1s 2s 2p

1s 2s 2p

1s 2s
1s 2s 2p 3s
1s 2s 2p

1s 2s
1s 2s 2p 3s

ATOMIC NUMBER
12
 Successive Ionisation Energies
Atoms with more than one electron can have them successively removed.

2nd I.E. The energy required to remove one mole of electrons (to infinity) from one mole
of gaseous unipositive ions to form one mole of gaseous dipositive ions.

e.g. Na+(g) Na2+ (g) + e-

Make
Makesure
sureyou
you
Al+(g) Al2+ (g) + e- write
write in the(g)
in the (g)

Trends Successive ionisation energies are always greater than the previous one
Reason :- the electron is being pulled away from a more positive species

Large increases occur when there is a change of shell

Reason :- there is a big decrease in shielding

Large increases can be used to predict the group of an unknown element

See
See next
next slide
slide for
for an
an example
example
 Successive Ionisation Energies of Calcium

I.E. kJmol-1 Electronic configuration

1 590 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2
2 1145 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s1
3 4912 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6
4 6474 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p5
5 8145 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p4
6 10496 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p3
7 12320 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p2
8 14207 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p1
9 18192 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2
10 20385 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s1
11 57048 1s2 2s2 2p6
12 63333 1s2 2s2 2p5
13 70052 1s2 2s2 2p4
14 78792 1s2 2s2 2p3 A
A
15 86367 1s2 2s2 2p2
16 94000 1s2 2s2 2p1
17 104900 1s2 2s2
18 111600 1s2 2s1
19 494790 1s2
20 527759 1s1

A
A
The 3rd I.E. is significantly higher than the 2nd I.E. because the third electron is
coming out of a 3p orbital, nearer the nucleus and subjected to less shielding.
More energy is needed to overcome the attraction of the nucleus.
 Successive Ionisation Energies of Calcium

I.E. kJmol-1 Electronic configuration

1 590 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2
2 1145 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s1
3 4912 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6
4 6474 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p5
5 8145 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p4
6 10496 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p3
7 12320 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p2
8 14207 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p1
9 18192 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2
10 20385 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s1 B
B
11 57048 1s2 2s2 2p6
12 63333 1s2 2s2 2p5
13 70052 1s2 2s2 2p4
14 78792 1s2 2s2 2p3
15 86367 1s2 2s2 2p2
16 94000 1s2 2s2 2p1
17 104900 1s2 2s2
18 111600 1s2 2s1
19 494790 1s2
20 527759 1s1

B
B The 11th I.E. is significantly higher than the 10th I.E. because the eleventh
electron is coming out of the second main energy level, not the third. It is
much nearer the nucleus and is subjected to less shielding.
 Successive Ionisation Energies of Calcium

I.E. kJmol-1 Electronic configuration

1 590 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2
2 1145 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s1
3 4912 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 C
C
4 6474 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p5
5 8145 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p4
6 10496 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p3
7 12320 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p2
8 14207 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p1
9 18192 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2
10 20385 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s1
11 57048 1s2 2s2 2p6
12 63333 1s2 2s2 2p5
13 70052 1s2 2s2 2p4
14 78792 1s2 2s2 2p3
15 86367 1s2 2s2 2p2
16 94000 1s2 2s2 2p1
17 104900 1s2 2s2
18 111600 1s2 2s1
19 494790 1s2
20 527759 1s1

C
C The 19th I.E. is significantly higher than the 18th I.E. because the electron being
removed is from the first main energy level. It is much nearer the nucleus and is
subjected to no shielding - its value is extremely large.
 Successive Ionisation Energies of Calcium

I.E. kJmol-1 Electronic configuration

1 590 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2
2 1145 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s1
3 4912 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 C
C
4 6474 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p5
5 8145 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p4
6 10496 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p3
7 12320 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p2
8 14207 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p1
9 18192 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2
10 20385 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s1 B
B
11 57048 1s2 2s2 2p6
12 63333 1s2 2s2 2p5
13 70052 1s2 2s2 2p4
14 78792 1s2 2s2 2p3 A
A
15 86367 1s2 2s2 2p2
16 94000 1s2 2s2 2p1
17 104900 1s2 2s2
18 111600 1s2 2s1
19 494790 1s2
20 527759 1s1

SUMMARY Wherever there has been a large increase in Ionisation Energy

there has been a change in energy level from which the electron
has been removed.
 QUESTION TIME

Q.1 Which has the higher value, the 3rd I.E. of aluminium or the 3rd I.E. of magnesium?

CLICK
CLICK HERE
HERE FOR
FOR
THE
THE ANSWER
ANSWER
 QUESTION TIME

Q.2 Which has the higher value, the 1st I.E. of sodium or the 2nd I.E. of magnesium?

CLICK
CLICK HERE
HERE FOR
FOR
THE
THE ANSWER
ANSWER
 QUESTION TIME

Q.1 Which has the higher value, the 3rd I.E. of aluminium or the 3rd I.E. of magnesium?

Ans The 3rd I.E. of magnesium

EXPLANATION
The 3rd I.E. of aluminium involves the following change...
Al2+ (g) Al3+ (g)
1s2 2s2 2p6 3s1 1s2 2s2 2p6
The 3rd I.E. of magnesium involves the following change…

Mg2+ (g) Mg3+ (g)

1s2 2s2 2p6 1s2 2s2 2p5

Despite magnesium having 12 protons in its nucleus and aluminium

having 13, more energy is required to remove the third electron from
magnesium. This is because the electron being removed is coming
from an orbital closer to the nucleus. There is less shielding and
therefore a greater effective nuclear charge. The electron is thus held
more strongly.

Q.2
 QUESTION TIME

Q.2 Which has the higher value, the 1st I.E. of sodium or the 2nd I.E. of magnesium?

Ans The 2nd I.E. of magnesium

EXPLANATION
The 1st I.E. of sodium involves the following change
Na(g) Na+(g)
1s2 2s2 2p6 3s1 1s2 2s2 2p6
The 2nd I.E. of magnesium involves the same change in electron configuration…

Mg+(g) Mg2+ (g)

1s2 2s2 2p6 3s1 1s2 2s2 2p6

However, magnesium has 12 protons in its nucleus, whereas sodium only has 11.
The greater nuclear charge means that the electron being removed is held more
strongly and more energy must be put in to remove it.
 REVISION CHECK

What should you be able to do?

Recallthe definition of 1st Ionisation Energy

Understand why energy is needed to remove an electron from an atom / ion
Write equations representing 1st Ionisation Energy
Know the trend in 1st Ionisation Energy across periods
Explain, in terms of electron configuration, the trend across a given period
Know the trend in 1st Ionisation Energy down groups
Explain the trend down a given group
Know, and explain, why successive Ionisation Energies get bigger
Explain why there is sometimes a large jump between successive values
Predict which group an element is in from its Ionisation Energies

CAN YOU DO ALL OF THESE? YES NO

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IONISATION
ENERGY
THE END

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