IONISATION ENERGY

This is the minimum amount of energy required to remove an electron from a

gaseous atom to form a charged gaseous ion.
Ionization energy is an endothermic process as the energy is
absorbed by the electron to come out of the atom and is
generally expressed in kilojoules per mole (KJmol -1)
Metal atoms lose electrons to non - metal atoms because metals
typically have relatively low ionization energies. Non-metals,
which are found in the right-hand region of the periodic table,
have relatively large ionization energies because they have
more tendency to gain than to loose electrons
First ionisation energy and successive ionisation
energies:
Ionisation energy can be first, second or third, and so on ionisation energies
depending on which electron is being removed from the gaseous atom/ion.
The energy required to remove the first electron is called the first
ionization energy, and to remove the second electron it is called
the second ionization energy.
First ionization energy
First ionisation energy is the minimum amount of energy required to remove an
electron from a neutral gaseous atom to form a unipositively charged gaseous
ion.
+¿ ( g ) +e ¿
- ∆H = First ionisation energy
X ( g) X
Second ionization energy
Second ionization energy can be defined as the minimum
amount of energy required to remove an outermost
electron from a gaseous, positively charged ion to form a
dispositively charged gaseous ion.
Removal of an electron from a neutrally charged atom results in a
positive charge. This is because there aren’t enough electrons to
neutralize all the positive charge of the nucleus. Removing
another electron from this positively charged atom will require a
very high energy. This amount of energy is called the second
ionization energy. This can be given in a reaction as below.

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 2+ ¿ ( g) +e ¿

X +¿ ( g) X ¿

Second ionization energy is always a higher value than the

first ionization energy since it is very difficult to remove an
electron from a positively charged ion than from a neutrally
charged atom; this is because the rest of the electrons are highly
attracted by the nucleus after removing one electron from a
neutral atom.
Successive ionization energy
Successive ionization energy is defined as the minimum
amount of energy that is required to remove an electron
one after the other from a gaseous ion.
Successive ionization energy will depend upon the number of
electrons present in the outermost shell.
Note: Successive ionisation energies increase from first to second to third and so
on because as successive electrons are removed, the number of protons becomes
greater than the number of the remaining electrons, screening effect reduces,
effective nuclear charge increases, and the remaining electrons become strongly
attracted by the nucleus thus requiring a high amount of energy to be removed.
Activity 1: In this activity, you will find out the difference between the second
and third ionisation energies of magnesium.
Magnesium has a total of 12 electrons and its second and third
ionization energies are 1450 KJ mol-1 and 7730 kJ mol-1
respectively.
Discuss in pairs:
(a) Why does the ionization energy increase after the second
electron is removed?
(b) From which energy levels are the second and third electrons
removed?
(c) What effect does nuclear attraction have on this process?
(d) Write a short explanation for the observed difference in
ionization energies.
(e) Apply this concept to another element (e.g., aluminum) and
predict how its ionization energy values might behave.

Activity 2: In this activity, you will learn how ionisation

energy varies form one electron to another during
successive removal.
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The table below shows ionization energies of element B
when its eight electrons were removed one by one.

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th

78 158 323 436 16,0 20,0 23,6 28,8

6 0 0 0 00 00 00 00
Task
(a) Work in pairs to spot the largest jump in ionization energy.
(b) What does this reveal about the electron arrangement of Element B?
(c) Write an explanation for the observed trend in successive ionisation
energies
Factors affecting the variation in the first Ionisation energy
The variation in first ionisation energy down a group or across a period is
determined by the following factors;

1 . Nuclear charge
The higher the nuclear charge, the higher the first ionisation energy because the
outermost electron is strongly attracted by the nucleus, requiring a high amount
of energy to be removed. The lower the nuclear charge, the lower the first
ionisation energy because the outermost electron is weakly attracted by the
nucleus, requiring a low amount of energy to be removed.
2. Screening effect
The higher the screening effect, the lower the first ionisation energy because the
outermost electron is more strongly repelled than it is attracted by the
nucleus, requiring a low amount of energy to be removed. The lower the screening
effect, the higher the first ionisation energy because the outermost electron is
more strongly attracted by the nucleus than it is repelled, requiring a high
amount of energy to be removed.
3. Atomic radius
The larger the atomic radius, the lower the first ionisation energy because the
outermost electron is far and weakly attracted by the nucleus, requiring a low
amount of energy to be removed. The smaller the atomic radius, the higher the first
ionisation energy because the outermost electron is nearer and strongly
attracted by the nucleus, requiring a higher amount of energy to be removed.
4. Electronic configuration/ electronic structure
Atoms with outermost sub energy levels half-filled or completely filled with
electrons are thermodynamically stable and require abnormally higher amount
of energy to remove an electron. Atoms whose outermost sub energy levels are

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neither half-filled nor completely filled with electrons are unstable and require
a low amount of energy to remove an electron.
5. Penetrating power of valence electrons: If an electron is to be removed in a
sub energy level which is more penetrating, the first ionisation energy is higher.
If the electron is in a less penetrating sub energy level, the ionisation energy is
lower. Penetrating power increases in the order; f <d < p< s .

Variation in ionisation energy in Periods

First ionization energy generally increases across a period from left to right.
This is because from one element to another, nuclear charge increases because a
proton is added to nucleus from element to element. Screening effect almost
remains constant, because electrons are added to the same energy level. Effective
nuclear charge increases, atomic radius reduces and outer most electron is
closer and more strongly attracted than repelled by the nucleus requiring a high
amount of energy to be removed.
Activity:

Variation in ionisation energy in a group

First ionization energy decreases down the group from top to bottom.
This is because from top to bottom, nuclear charge increases because protons are
added to the nucleus, screening effect also increases, because an extra energy
level completely filled with electrons is added from element to element. Increase
in screening effect outweighs increase in nuclear charge. Effective nuclear
charge decreases, atomic radius increases and outer most electron is far and
weakly attracted by the nucleus requiring a low amount of energy to be removed.
Activity:

(a) Why do noble gases have the highest ionization energy?

(b) Why do metals easily lose electrons while non-metals hold onto theirs?
(c) How does ionization energy help explain chemical reactivity?

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 Important information from successive ionization energies
Ionization energy provides a basis for understanding the chemistry of an element.
The following information is provided:
1. Determining atomic number of the element.
This is given by the number of successive ionization energies an atom has got for
example sodium with 11 successive ionization energies has atomic number 11.
2. Predicting metallic and non-metallic character
Metallic character is inversely proportional to the ionization
energy.
Lower the ionisation energy more is the metallic character of the element. In
addition, most metals have low first ionization energies, usually below 800 KJmol –
1
. Non-metals have higher first ionisation energies than metals and usually above
800Kmol-1. Noble gases have the highest first ionisation energies because they
have stable configurations and require very high energies to remove an electron.
3. Determining the group, valence and period to which the element belongs
The group, valence and period of the element can also be determined from
information on successive ionisation energies by observing differences between
two successive ionisation energies. For the group and valence, it involves finding
out the valence electrons and for the period it involves finding out the number of
shells present in the atom.
4. Predicting the arrangement of electrons in the shells.
The evidence for arrangement of electrons in energy levels of atoms is provided by
values of successive ionisation energies for elements. This can be seen from a
logarithmic plot of successive ionisation energies against the number of electrons
removed from the atom.
5. Generating electronic configurations
Electronic configuration can be generated from the order of arrangement of
electrons in the atom which is predicted from interpretation of the data about
successive ionisation energies.
Activity 1

1. The table below shows the first ionization energies of the elements in
Period 2 of the Periodic Table.

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Element Li Be B C N O F Ne
First ionisation energy(kJmol-1) 520 899 800 1086 1402 1314 1681 2080
(a) State and explain the general trend in first ionisation energy
(b) Briefly explain why;
(i) Beryllium has an abnormally higher value than boron
(ii) Oxygen has an abnormally lower value than
nitrogen
(iii) the ionisation energy of Neon is very high
(a) First ionization energy generally increases from lithium to neon.
This is because from lithium to neon, nuclear charge increases because a
proton is added to nucleus from element to element. Screening effect almost
remains constant, because electrons are added to the same energy level.
Effective nuclear charge increases, atomic radius reduces and outer most
electron is closer and more strongly attracted than repelled by the nucleus
requiring a high amount of energy to be removed.
(b)(i)
2 2
Be−1 s 2 s
2 1
B−1 s 2 s
For Beryllium, an electron is removed from a completely filled 2s-sub energy
level which is thermodynamically stable. Higher amount of energy is required to
remove the electron.
For Boron, an electron is removed from a 2p-sub energy level which has only one
electron hence thermodynamically unstable. Lower amount of energy is required
to remove the electron.
(ii) 2 2
O−1 s 2 s 2 s
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2 2 3
N−1 s 2 s 2 p
For oxygen, the electron is removed from a 2p-sub energy level which has four
electrons hence thermodynamically unstable. Lower amount of energy is
required to remove the electron.
For nitrogen, an electron is removed from a half filled 2p-sub energy level which
is thermodynamically stable. Higher amount of energy is required to remove the
electron.
(iii)
2 2 6
Ne−1 s 2 s 2 p
For neon, an electron is removed from a completely filled 2p-sub energy level
which is thermodynamically stable. High amount of energy is required to remove
the electron
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2. The table below shows the first ionization energies of Group VII elements.

Element F Cl Br I
-1
First ionisation energy(kJmol ) 1681 1255 1142 1007
State and explain the trend in ionization energy of the elements

First ionization energy decreases from fluorine to iodine.

This is because from fluorine to iodine, nuclear charge increases, screening effect
also increases, because an extra energy level completely filled with electrons is
added from element to element. Increase in screening effect outweighs increase
in nuclear charge. Effective nuclear charge decreases, atomic radius increases
and outer most electron is far and weakly attracted by the nucleus requiring a low
amount of energy to be removed.
Students’ trial questions
1. The table below shows the first ionization energies of the elements in Period 3
of the Periodic Table.
Element Na Mg Al Si P S Cl Ar
Atomic number 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
-
First ionization energy (kJmol 496 738 578 786 1012 1000 1251 1521
1
)
(a) Plot a graph of ionization energy against atomic number of the elements
(b) State and explain the trend in ionization energy of the elements
(c) Explain why the;
(i) first ionization energy of argon is very high
(ii) first ionization energy of Sulphur is less than that of phosphorus
(iii) first ionization energy of aluminium is less than that of magnesium
2. The elements magnesium, silicon and phosphorous belong to period 3 of the
periodic table and have the ionization energies 740,790 and 1060KJmol-1
State and explain the trend in the ionization energies of the elements
3. (a) (i) What is meant by the term ‘First ionization energy’ of an element
(ii) Write the equation for the third ionization energy of
magnesium
(b) The second and third ionization energies of Magnesium are
1450 KJ mol-1
and 7730 kJ mol -1 respectively. Explain the large difference
in ionization
energy.

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4. The table below shows the first ionization energies of Group II
elements
Element Be Mg Ca Sr Ba
First ionisation energy (kJmol-1) 899 738 589 549 502
(a) Define the term first ionisation energy.
(b) State and explain the trend in ionization energy of the elements
Examination questions
1. Below is a plot of log 10 (Ionisation energy ) against number of electrons
removed for element Y

Using your graph, determine

(a) (i)The atomic number
From the graph, a total of 13 electrons are removed from the atom. Since
number of electrons is equal to proton number for a neutral atom, Y has atomic
number 13. The number of successive ionisation energies indicate the number of
electrons removed from an atom.

(ii) Group of an element in the Periodic Table.

From the graph, the removal of the first three electrons requires the lowest
ionisation energy. These electrons are the easiest to remove because they are
strongly shielded from nuclear attraction and weakly attracted by the nucleus. Y
therefore is in group III

(iii) Valency

Y has valence three since it has three electrons in the outermost energy level,
strongly shielded from the nucleus and easily lost.

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 (iv) Electronic configuration and number of energy levels.

From the graph, there is a gradual increase from first to third ionisation
energies. This implies that the first three electrons occupy the same outermost
energy level and they are strongly shielded from nuclear attraction and weakly
attracted by the nucleus making them to be easily lost. The outermost energy
level therefore has three electrons. There is an unexpectedly large increase
from third to fourth ionisation energies. This implies that the fourth electron is
removed from an inner energy level, completely filled with electrons,
thermodynamically stable and closer to the nucleus than the outermost energy
level. There is an anomalous large increase from the eleventh to twelfth ionisation
energies. This implies that the twelfth electron is removed from an inner
energy level, completely filled with electrons, thermodynamically stable and
closer to the nucleus. The last two electrons occupy the innermost energy level,
closest to the nucleus and require the highest amount of energy to be removed
due to a very strong nuclear attraction.

Y therefore has three energy levels with electronic configuration as shown below.
Electronic configuration Is2 2s2 2 p 6 3 s 2 3p6
(v) Period in the Periodic Table

Y is in Period 3 since it has three energy levels

From all the information above, it can be concluded that element Y is

aluminium.
2. The table below shows the first six successive ionisation energies of
elements P, Q, R, and S.
Element Ionisation energy
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th
P 494 4560 6940 9540 13400 16600
Q 736 1450 7740 10500 13600 18000
R 1090 2350 4610 6220 37800 47000
S 1400 2860 4590 7480 9400 53200
(a) Explain the trend in the;
(i) Successive ionisation energies for the elements.
(ii) Successive ionisation energies for element P.
(b)With reasons, state the group to which the elements P, Q, R and S
belong.
(a) (i) Successive ionisation energies increase from first to second to third to
fourth to fifth to sixth because as successive electrons are removed, the

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 number of protons becomes greater than the number of the remaining electrons,
screening effect reduces, effective nuclear charge increases and the remaining
electrons become strongly attracted by the nucleus thus requiring a high
amount of energy to be removed.
(ii) For element P, successive ionisation energies increase from first to second to
third to fourth to fifth to sixth because as successive electrons are removed, the
number of protons becomes greater than the number of the remaining
electrons, screening effect reduces, effective nuclear charge increases and the
remaining electrons become strongly attracted by the nucleus thus requiring a
high amount of energy to be removed. However, there is a greater increase in
ionisation energy from first to second compared to the second and third, third
and fourth, fourth and fifth, fifth and sixth ionisation energies because the
second electron is in an inner energy level, completely filled with electrons,
thermodynamically stable and nearer the nucleus.
(c) P belongs to group I: This is because the difference between the first and
second ionisation energies is very big compared to the difference between
second and third, third and fourth, fourth and fifth, fifth and six ionisation
energies. This implies that the second electron is removed from an inner energy
level, completely filled with electrons, thermodynamically stable and closer
to the nucleus and the first electron is in the outermost energy level.
Q belongs to group II. This is because the difference between second and third
ionisation energies is very big compared to the difference between first and
second, third and fourth, fourth and fifth, fifth and sixth ionisation energies.
This implies that the third electron is removed from an inner energy level,
completely filled with electrons, thermodynamically stable and closer to the
nucleus and the first two electrons are in an outermost energy level.
R belongs to group VI. This is because the difference between fourth and fifth
ionisation energies is very big compared to the difference between first and
second, second and third, third and fourth, fifth and sixth ionisation
energies. This implies that the fifth electron is removed from an inner energy
level, completely filled with electrons, thermodynamically stable and closer to
the nucleus and the first four electrons are in the outermost energy level.
S belongs to group V. This is because the difference between fifth and sixth
ionisation energies is very big compared to the difference between first and
second, second and third, third and fourth, fourth and fifth ionisation
energies. This implies that the sixth electron is removed from an inner energy

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 level, completely filled with electrons, thermodynamically stable and closer
to the nucleus and the first five electrons are in an outermost energy level.
Students’ trial questions.
1. Successive ionisation energies (kJmol-1) for some elements in Period 3 of the
periodic Table are shown in the table below.
Element Ionisation energy
st nd
1 2 3rd 4th 5th
Silicon 787 1577 3230 4355 16090
Phosphorus 1060 1896 2908 4954 6272
Sulphur 1000 2258 3381 4565 6995
(a) State and explain the trend in successive ionisation energies.
(b) Explain why the;
(i) First ionisation energy of sulphur is less than that of phosphorus
(ii) third ionisation energy of phosphorus is less than that of silicon.
(iii) the first ionisation energy of aluminium is less than that of
magnesium.
2. The table below shows the first three successive ionisation energies of elements
A, B, C, D, E and F.
Ionisation Element
-1
energy(kJmol ) A B C D E F
1st 1013 1000 1255 1519 418 590
nd
2 1904 2255 2297 2665 3067 1146
rd
3 2916 3389 3853 3933 4393 4916
With a reason in each case; state which element;
(i) is a noble gas
(ii) belongs to group I
(iii) belongs to group I
3. Explain why the first ionization energies of group (I) elements are lower than
those of group (II) elements in the periodic table

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