Ionisation energy

• Explain the trends and discontinuities in first ionization energy (IE) across a
period and down a group.
• Know what happens to successive ionisation energies of an element.
• Deduce the group of an element from its successive ionization data.
• Analyse information shown in graphs and interpret them.
• Describe the relevance of ionisation energies to electron sub shells.
Starter:
1) How do you calculate the energy of a wave given the frequency?
2) How does frequency relate to wavelength?
3) What is the frequency of a wave that has an energy of 3x10 -19 J?
4) Which electronic configuration for Zn, Zinc, is correct?
a) 1s22s22s63s23p64s23d10
b) 1s22s22p63s23p64s23d9
c) 1s22s22p63s23p64s14d10
5) What is the definition of ionisation energy?
Answers
Starter:
1) How do you calculate the energy of a wave given the frequency?
2) How does frequency relate to wavelength?
3) What is the frequency of a wave that has an energy of 3.00x10-19 J?
4) Which electronic configuration for Zn, Zinc, is correct?
a) 1s22s22s63s23p64s23d10
b) 1s22s22p63s23p64s23d10
c) 1s22s22p63s23p64s24d10
5) What is the definition of ionisation energy?
1) E = hv
2) v = c/λ
3) v = E/h = 3x10-19/6.626x10-34 = 4.52x1014
4) 1s22s22p63s23p64s23d10
5) Ionisation energy is the minimum energy required to remove an electron from
a neutral gaseous atom in its ground state.
Ionisation energy
The energy required to remove one electron from
an atom in it’s gaseous state.
First ionisation energy – removal of the first electron
X(g) X+(g) + e-
Second ionisation energy – removal of the second electron
X+(g) X2+(g) + e-

Nth ionisation energy – removal of the third electron

X(n-1)+(g) Xn+(g) + e-
The limit of convergence is the same as the
ionisation energy.
• Energy level n=∞ is the limit of
convergence

• This is when the energy

becomes a continuum
• Electron can take any energy
• Why?

• Because the electron is no

longer associated with the
atom.
• Quantisation no longer applies.
 HYDROGEN
EXPLANATION
Despite having a
nuclear charge of only
1st IONISATION ENERGY / kJmol-1

1+, Hydrogen has a

relatively high 1st
1s
Ionisation Energy as
its electron is closest
to the nucleus and has
no shielding.

ATOMIC NUMBER
1
 1s

HELIUM

EXPLANATION
Helium has a much
1st IONISATION ENERGY / kJmol-1

higher value because

of the extra proton in
1s the nucleus. The
additional charge
provides a stronger
attraction for the
electrons making
them harder to
remove.

ATOMIC NUMBER
2
 EXPLANATION
1s

LITHIUM There is a substantial

drop in the value for
Lithium.
Despite the increased
1st IONISATION ENERGY / kJmol-1

nuclear charge, there

is electron shielding
1s from the 1s orbital.
The 2s electron is also
further away from the
nucleus. It is held less
strongly and needs
1s 2s
less energy for
removal.

ATOMIC NUMBER
3
 1s
BERYLLIUM

EXPLANATION
The value for Beryllium
is higher than for
1st IONISATION ENERGY / kJmol-1

Lithium due to the

increased nuclear
1s
charge. There is no
extra shielding.
1s 2s

1s 2s

ATOMIC NUMBER
4
 EXPLANATION
1s
BORON
There is a DROP in the value for
Boron. This is because the extra
electron has gone into one of
the 2p orbitals. The increased
shielding makes the electron
1st IONISATION ENERGY / kJmol-1

easier to remove

1s
It was evidence such as this
that confirmed the existence of
sub-shells. If there hadn’t been
1s 2s
any sub-shell, the value would
1s 2s 2p
have been higher than that of
Beryllium.
1s 2s

ATOMIC NUMBER
5
 1s
CARBON

EXPLANATION
The value increases again for
1st IONISATION ENERGY / kJmol-1

Carbon due to the increased

nuclear charge.
1s

1s 2s 2p

1s 2s

1s 2s 2p

1s 2s

ATOMIC NUMBER
6
 1s
NITROGEN
EXPLANATION
The value increases
again for Nitrogen due
to the increased
1st IONISATION ENERGY / kJmol-1

nuclear charge.
1s 2s 2p As before, the extra
1s
electron goes into the
1s 2s 2p vacant 2p orbital.
There are now three
1s 2s
unpaired electrons.
1s 2s 2p

1s 2s

ATOMIC NUMBER
7
 EXPLANATION
1s
OXYGEN There is a DROP in the
value for Oxygen. The
extra electron has
paired up with one of
the electrons already in
one of the 2p orbitals.
1st IONISATION ENERGY / kJmol-1

The repulsive force

1s 2s 2p
between the two
1s
1s 2s 2p paired-up electrons
1s 2s 2p
means that less energy
1s 2s
is required to remove
one of them.
1s 2s 2p

1s 2s

ATOMIC NUMBER
8
 1s
FLUORINE
EXPLANATION
The value increases
again for Fluorine due
1s 2s 2p
to the increased
1st IONISATION ENERGY / kJmol-1

nuclear charge.
1s 2s 2p
1s
1s 2s 2p
The 2p orbitals are
1s 2s 2p
almost full.

1s 2s

1s 2s 2p

1s 2s

ATOMIC NUMBER
9
 1s
NEON EXPLANATION
1s 2s 2p The value increases
again for Neon due to
the increased nuclear
1s 2s 2p charge.
1st IONISATION ENERGY / kJmol-1

1s 2s 2p
The 2p orbitals are now
1s full so the next electron
1s 2s 2p

1s 2s 2p
in will have to go into
the higher energy 3s
1s 2s orbital.
1s 2s 2p

1s 2s

ATOMIC NUMBER
10
 EXPLANATION
1s
SODIUM
There is a substantial
1s 2s 2p drop in the value for
Sodium. This is because
the extra electron has
1s 2s 2p gone into an orbital in
1st IONISATION ENERGY / kJmol-1

the next energy level.

1s 2s 2p
1s
This means there is an
1s 2s 2p
extra shielding effect of
1s 2s 2p
filled inner 1s, 2s and
1s 2s
2p energy levels.
1s 2s 2p

1s 2s
1s 2s 2p 3s

ATOMIC NUMBER
11
 The value for Magnesiu
Magnesi
higher than for Sodium
to the increased nuclea
nucle
charge. There is no ext
1s shielding.

1s 2s 2p
The trend is similar to
at the start of the 2nd
period.
1s 2s 2p
1st IONISATION ENERGY / kJmol-1

1s 2s 2p
1s
1s 2s 2p

1s 2s 2p

1s 2s
1s 2s 2p 3s
1s 2s 2p

1s 2s
1s 2s 2p 3s

ATOMIC NUMBER
12
Ionisation energy across the periodic table
• A graph of the first ionisation energy plotted
against the atomic number.

Task: State the general trend in ionisation energy

as you go across a period (H  He, Li  Ne and
Na  Ar) Explain why.

• Generally, the IE increases. Greater Zeff

(effective nuclear charge) so electrons are
pulled closer to nucleus so greater attraction so
it is harder to remove an electron. Also the
atomic radius decreases so the distance between
the valence electron and the nucleus decreases.
Ionisation energy across the periodic table
• How do you think the graph
accounts for the existence of main
energy levels and sub-shells in
atoms? – (Use electron
configurations to help)

• Each dip in the ionisation energy

corresponds to losing an electron
from a new shell or half full+1
shell. Remember you gain stability
from having a full or half full shell.
e.g. Boron
• Looking at boron, it has a lower ionisation
energy than Be.
• This is against what we would usually expect
as Zeff has increases.

• The electronic configuration is 1s2 2s2 2p1

• It is very easy to lose the electron in this p

orbital as there is only one electron in it.
Task:
• Explain why the first ionisation energy of
oxygen is lower than expected.

• Even though the Zeff increases

• The electronic configuration is 1s2 2s2 2p4

• It is very easy to lose the electron in this p

orbital as it makes a half full shell which
brings stability.
What about down the groups?
• Write a short paragraph to explain how the
ionisation energies change down the group. (Use
diagrams if you wish)

• As you go down the group, the principle quantum

number increases meaning there are more shells.
• Electron is further away from the nucleus so is lost
easier.
• The shielding effect of the core electrons increases
faster than the nuclear charge. This weakens the
attractive force
Successive ionisation energies.
• It is possible to remove more than
one electron.

• E.g. IE2 is the energy required to

remove one electron from a +1 ion
in it’s gaseous state.

• We can use these to tell us about

the shells

• And therefore identify elements.

Relatively little energy is needed to remove the electron from the 4s sub-level,
part of the fourth principal energy level.
Ionisation Energies Tips
4s1 3p6 3s2 2p62s2. 1s2
1 8 8 2

• What is the easiest electron to remove?

• The gaps and jumps are your biggest hints
Look for the Gap

• Some of the ionisation energies of three elements, ABC, are

shown in the table.
• What group is each element in and why?
E.g. Chlorine
• 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p5
• Generally gets harder to remove electrons as you
remove more
• Harder to remove electrons from an already positive ion

• Paired electrons removed first from 3p

• Then unpaired from 3p

• Then 3s.

• All of those are close in energy, same principle quantum

number.

• Huge jump in energy to remove 2p as these are closer to

the nucleus and in a lower principle quantum number.
Task: With reference to the successive
ionisation energies, identify this element.
Task: With reference to the successive
ionisation energies, identify this element.
• Sodium.

• Low first ionisation energy as 3s electron is lost. 

easy to do as only one in shell.

• Jump in energy to a lower principle quantum

number then 8 successive electrons relatively easily
lost  2p and 2s

• Large jump in energy signifies a jump to a lower

principle quantum number  losing 1s electrons.

• 2 2 6 1
Questions:
1. Explain why the first ionisation energy of Magnesium is higher than Sodium?

2. Explain why the first ionisation energy of Aluminium is lower than for
Magnesium.

3. Which will have a higher second ionisation energy, fluorine or neon? Explain your
answer.

4. What is the first ionisation energy in kJmol-1 of the shortest wavelength line in
the Lyman series if the wavelength is 91.16nm? h = 6.626x10-34Js; c=
2.998x108ms-1; NA = 6.022x1023 mol-1

5. Draw a graph to show 7 successive ionisation energies of Aluminium explain what

Answers
1. Magnesium and Sodium have the same principle quantum number and have
the same shells occupies so same shielding. Magnesium has one more proton
and electron so Zeff will be higher making it harder to lose an electron.
2. Aluminium has the highest energy electron in a 3p orbital. As there is only one
electron in this orbital, it is easier to lose leaving a full shell. This is despite a
higher Zeff
3. Fluorine as it will lose its second electron to leave a half full shell which gives
stability.
4. IE1 = hv =hc/λ
6.626x10-34 J S x 2.988 x108 m s-1 / 91.16x10-9 m = 2.179x10-18 J
In kJ mol-1 : 2.179x10-18 J x 6.022x1023 mol-1 = 1.312x106 Jmol-1 = 1312 kJmol-1
Answers
5.