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Ionization Energy

Ionization Energy Definition

The ionization energy (IE) or ionization potential is the energy needed to remove an electron from an atom in the gaseous state.

M(g) → M+(g) + e      IE

Since one, two or more electrons can be removed from an atom, many ionization energy is possible of that atom.

  • The first ionization energy (IE1) is the energy needed to remove the first electron from the atom in gaseous state.
  • The second ionization energy (IE2) is the energy needed to remove the second electron from the atom in gaseous state.
  • The higher ionization energies are also possible for an atom in gaseous state.

M(g) → M+(g) + e–    IE1

M+(g) → M2+(g) + e–    IE2

M2+(g) → M3+(g) + e–    IE3

Order of successive ionization energy

The second ionization energy (IE2) is always larger than the first ionization energy (IE1) as it is hard to remove an electron from a positive atomic ion than a neutral atom. The third ionization energy (IE3) is also larger than the second one (IE2). Thus in general successive ionization energies increase in magnitude IE1<IE2<IE3<IE4 and so on.

First Ionization energy in the periodic table

The first ionization energy of atoms in the periodic table increases across the period and decreases down the group.

Ionization Energy 3

First ionization energy increases across the period

Moving from left to right across a period, the number of protons and electrons increases while the number of energy shells stay same. Thus because of more attraction between increasing number of positive nucleus and negative electrons, the more energy is needed to remove an electron from successive atoms. Thus the first ionization energy increases across the period.

First ionization energy decreases down the group

Moving down a group, the number of energy shells also increases with the increase of protons and electrons. So because of shielding effects of electrons in the increased inner shells, the attraction between electrons and nucleus is reduced down the group. As a result the first ionization energy is also decreases down the group in periodic.

Regular discontinuities

Though the increase in ionization energy is found across the period in periodic table but exceptions are with decrease in ionization energy across the period 2 and 3 between groups 2 and 3, and 5 and 6 elements (Be>B, Mg>Al, N>O and P>S).

Decrease from beryllium to boron

This can be explained by the electronic configuration of beryllium and boron.

Be 1s22s2 IE1 = 900 kJ mol-1
B 1s22s22px1 IE1 = 799 kJ mol-1

According to the above discussion boron should have more ionization energy than boron because of one extra proton in boron. But boron’s one extra electron is in 2p orbital whicr>
h is a slightly higher energy than 2s orbital. This means the distance between the nucleus and the outer electron in boron is more than beryllium. At the same time the shielding effect also increased in boron. The increased distance and shielding effect in boron, results a reduced attraction and so a reduced ionization energy.

Decrease from magnesium to aluminium

For the same reason the decrease is also observed between magnesium and aluminium. In this case the one extra electron in aluminium goes to 3p orbital.

Mg 1s22s22p63s2 IE1 = 736 kJ mol-1
Al 1s22s22p63s23px1 IE1 = 577 kJ mol-1

Due to the increased distance and shielding effect, the attraction of outermost electron in aluminium experiences less attraction towards nucleus and thus the ionization energy decreases.

Decrease from nitrogen to oxygen and phosphorous to sulphur

The outermost electron in both nitrogen and oxygen is being removed from an identical orbital 2p. The difference is that in oxygen the outer electron is being removed from a pair of electrons in 2px2. The repulsion between the two electrons in the same orbital results the easy removal of electron from that orbital. Thus less energy required to remove that electron and less ionization energy.

N 1s22s22px12py12pz1 IE1 = 1400 kJ mol-1
O 1s22s22px22py12pz1 IE1 = 1310 kJ mol-1

Summary

  • The ionization energy (IE) is the energy needed to remove an electron from an atom in the gaseous state.
  • In general successive ionization energies increase in magnitude IE1<IE2<IE3<IE4 and so on.
  • First ionization energy increases across the period
  • First ionization energy decreases down the group
  • Exceptions are with decrease in ionization energy across the period 2 and 3 between groups 2 and 3, and 5 and 6 elements (Be>B, Mg>Al, N>O and P>S).
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