Factors Affecting the Ionisation Energy
1) Atomic radius
The valence electrons of an atom with a larger radius experience a less attraction
towards nucleus,hence possesses a low ionization energy.
2) Effective nuclear charge,Zeff
The higher the nuclear charge, the stronger the attraction between the nucleus and
electrons.This causes the ionization energy to increase.
3) Shielding effect (screening effect)
The shielding effect of the electrons in the inner orbitals causes the outer electrons to
be less attracted to the nucleus and thus decrease the magnitude of ionization energy.
Variation in the 1st IE when:
(1) Moving across a period
When moving across a period,the element become less metallic or non-metallic
The effective nuclear change,Zeff increases and the atomic size decreases.
Valence electrons are closer to the nucleus.
The force of attraction between the nucleus and the valence e becomes stronger.
More difficult to remove an electron from the atom.
More energy is needed to remove the outermost electrons.
Thus,the ionisation energy increases.
-Anomalous Cases
Increase of IE with proton number is not uniform.
In period 2,
Between group 2(Be) and 13(B).Ionization energy of BE>B.
Completely filled orbital is more stable than partially filled orbital
1)Be:1s2 2s2 2)B:1s22s22p1
In Be,removing an e from a fully In B,removing an electron in 2p
filled 2s orbital the atom less orbital makes the atom more
stable stable
Hard to remove the valence Easy to remove the valence
electrons electron
More energy is needed to remove Shielding effect increase
the valence electron in 2s Attraction between the nucleus
Zeff will be higher and 2p electron is weak
Attraction between nucleus and Less energy is needed to remove
valence electrons in 2s is the electron
stronger Therefore ionization energy of B
Therefore ionization energy of is lower than Be
Be is higher than B
Between group 15(N) and 16(O).Ionization energy of N>O.
1) N:1s22s22p3 2) O:1s22s22p4
Completely filled orbital is more stable than partially filled orbital
In N,removing an e from the half In O,removing an electron in the
filled 2p orbital makes the atom 2p orbital makes the atom more
less stable stable.
Hard to remove the valence Easy to remove the valence
electrons electrons
More energy is needed to Shielding effect increase
remove the valence electron Attraction between the nucleus
Zeff will be higher and 2p electron is weak
Attraction between nucleus and Less energy is needed to remove
valence electrons in 2p is the electron
stronger Therefore ionization energy of
Therefore ionization energy of Oxygen is lower than Nitrogen.
Nitrogen is higher than Oxygen.
In Period 3,
Between Group 2(Mg) and 13(Al)
Completely filled orbital is more stable than partially filled orbital
1)Mg:1s22s22p63s2 2)Al:1s22s22p63s23p1
In Mg,removing an e from a In Al,removing an electron in the
fully filled 3s orbital makes the 3p orbital makes the atom more
atom less stable stable.
Hard to remove the valence e Easy to remove the valence
More energy is needed to electron
remove the valence e in 3s Shielding effect increase
Zeff will be higher Attraction between the nucleus
Attraction between nucleus and and 3p electron is weak
valence electrons in 3s is Less energy is needed to remove
stronger the electron
Therefore ionization energy of Therefore ionization energy of
Mg is higher than Al Ai is lower than Mg
Between group 15(P) and 16(S).Ionization energy P>S
Completely filled orbital is more stable than partially filled orbital
1) P:1s22s22p63s23p3 2) S:1s22s22p43s23p4
In P, removing an e from the half In Al,removing an electron in the
filled 3p orbital makes the atom 3p orbital makes the atom more
less stable stable
Hard to remove the valence Easy to remove the valence
electrons electrons
More energy is needed to Shielding effect increase
remove the valence electron Attraction between the nucleus
Zeff will be higher and 3p electron is weak
Attraction between nucleus and Less energy is needed to remove
valence electron in 3p is stronger the electron
Therefore ionization energy of P Therefore ionization energy of S
is higher than S is lower than P.
(ii)Going down the group
On descending a group …
The atomic radius increases as more electrons are added to next energy levels.(no. of
shell, n increases)
This causes the screening effect to increase
Valence electrons are further away from the nucleus
The force of attraction between the nucleus and valence electrons becomes weaker
It is easier to remove an electron from each atom
Therefore,less energy is needed to remove the first electron
Therefore, ionization energy decreases
