Structure 3.1.

7
Evidence for main energy levels and sublevels in atoms
(HL)
Evidence of subshells
1. The first ionization energy generally increases across period 2 and period 3.
2. The first I.E. of B is lower than that of Be in period 2, and that of Al is lower
than that of Mg in period 3.
3. The first I.E. of O is lower than that of N in period 2, and that of S is lower
than that of P in period 3.

Period 2 Period 3
Implication:
Presence of sub-energy
levels (subshells) in each
energy level!
B VS Be and Mg VS Al
Explain why in the second period, the first ionization
energy of B is lower than that of Be and in the third
period, the first ionization energy of Al is lower than that
of Mg.

The electronic configurations are:

Be: 1s22s2 B: 1s22s22p1
Mg: 1s22s22p63s2 Al:1s22s22p63s23p1

Electron removed from 2p in B but 2s in Be. The electron in 2p is of higher

energy and further away from the nucleus than electrons in 2s, therefore it
requires less energy to remove. Ionization energy of B is lower than that
of Be.
B VS Be and Mg VS Al
N VS O and P VS S
Explain why in the second period, the first ionization
enthalpy of O is lower than that of N and in the third
period, the first ionization enthalpy of S is lower than
that of P.

The electronic configurations are:

N: 1s22s22p3 O: 1s22s22p4
P: 1s22s22p63s23p3 S: 1s22s22p63s23p4

O has a doubly filled p orbital but N has only singly filled p orbitals. The
electron in the doubly occupied orbital in O is repelled by the second
electron, therefore it requires less energy to remove. Ionization energy of
O is lower than that of N.
Trend of first ionization energy across the period
1) Within these groups, the noble gas has the highest ionization energy.
2) Each group of 8 elements can be divided into two sub-groups, (2) &
(3+3).The ‘sub-groups’ here are known as the subshells.

Period 2 Period 3
Concept check
To which group does X belong?

1st ionization energy

X

Atomic number