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
stable
 Hard to remove the valence
electrons
 More energy is needed to remove
the valence electron in 2s
 Zeff will be higher
 Attraction between nucleus and
valence electrons in 2s is
stronger
 Therefore ionization energy of
orbital makes the atom more
stable
 Easy to remove the valence
electron
 Shielding effect increase
 Attraction between the nucleus
and 2p electron is weak
 Less energy is needed to remove
the electron
 Therefore ionization energy of B
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
atom less stable
 Hard to remove the valence e
 More energy is needed to
remove the valence e in 3s
 Zeff will be higher
 Attraction between nucleus and
valence electrons in 3s is
stronger
 Therefore ionization energy of
Mg is higher than Al
3p orbital makes the atom more
stable.
 Easy to remove the valence
electron
 Shielding effect increase
 Attraction between the nucleus
and 3p electron is weak
 Less energy is needed to remove
the electron
 Therefore ionization energy of
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
filled 3p orbital makes the atom
less stable
 Hard to remove the valence
electrons
 More energy is needed to
remove the valence electron
 Zeff will be higher
 Attraction between nucleus and
valence electron in 3p is stronger
 Therefore ionization energy of P
is higher than S
 In Al,removing an electron in the
3p orbital makes the atom more
stable
 Easy to remove the valence
electrons
 Shielding effect increase
 Attraction between the nucleus
and 3p electron is weak
 Less energy is needed to remove
the electron
 Therefore ionization energy of 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