IONISATION

ENERGY
IONISATION ENERGY

CONTENTS
• What is Ionisation Energy?
• Definition of 1st Ionisation Energy
• What affects Ionisation Energy?
• General variation across periods
• Variation down groups
• Variation in the first twelve elements
• Successive Ionisation Energies
• Questions
• Check list
 WHAT IS IONISATION ENERGY?
-
Ionisation Energy is a measure of the amount of energy
needed to remove electrons from atoms.
As electrons are negatively charged and protons in the
nucleus are positively charged, there will be an attraction
between them. The greater the pull of the nucleus, the
harder it will be to pull an electron away from an atom. Attraction between
the nucleus and
an electron
 WHAT IS IONISATION ENERGY?
-
Ionisation Energy is a measure of the amount of energy
needed to remove electrons from atoms.
As electrons are negatively charged and protons in the
nucleus are positively charged, there will be an attraction
between them. The greater the pull of the nucleus, the
harder it will be to pull an electron away from an atom. Attraction between
the nucleus and
an electron

FIRST IONISATION ENERGY - Definition

The energy required to remove ONE MOLE of electrons (to infinity) from ONE
MOLE of gaseous atoms to form ONE MOLE of gaseous positive ions.

e.g. Na(g) Na+(g) + e- Make sure you

Al(g) Al+(g) + e- write in the (g)
 WHAT AFFECTS IONISATION ENERGY?
The value of the 1st Ionisation Energy depends on the electronic structure

Hydrogen Helium Lithium

1310 kJ mol-1 2370 kJ mol-1

519 kJ mol-1

The value for helium is higher than that for hydrogen because there are now two
protons in the nucleus. The nuclear charge is greater so the pull on the outer
electrons is larger. More energy will be needed to pull an electron out of the atom.
 WHAT AFFECTS IONISATION ENERGY?
The value of the 1st Ionisation Energy depends on the electronic structure

Hydrogen Helium Lithium

1310 kJ mol-1 2370 kJ mol-1

519 kJ mol-1

The value for helium is higher than that for hydrogen because there are now two
protons in the nucleus. The nuclear charge is greater so the pull on the outer
electrons is larger. More energy will be needed to pull an electron out of the atom.

Lithium atoms have 3 protons so you would expect the pull on electrons to be
greater. However, the 1st Ionisation Energy of lithium is lower than that of helium
because…
• Filled inner shells exert a SHIELDING EFFECT; lowers the effective nuclear pull
• FURTHER AWAY from the nucleus = lower nuclear attraction for an electron
 Variation in 1st Ionisation Energy - PERIODS

1st Ionisation Energy shows a ‘general increase’ across a given period

 Variation in 1st Ionisation Energy - PERIODS

1st Ionisation Energy values show a periodic

trend. There is a ‘general increase’ across a
period before the value drops dramatically for
2500 the start of another period.
He
The values get smaller down groups as the
electron removed comes from an orbital further
2000 Ne
from the nucleus - there is more shielding.

1500
Ar
Kr
Xe
1000

500

0
 Variation in 1st Ionisation Energy - GROUPS

GROUP I Value decreases down the Group

despite an increased nuclear charge the outer s electron is easier to remove
this is due to increased shielding and greater distance from the nucleus
the outer electron is held less strongly and easier to remove

Li Na K

519 kJ mol-1

494 kJ mol-1 418 kJ mol-1

 Variation in 1st Ionisation Energy - GROUPS

GROUP I Value decreases down the Group

despite an increased nuclear charge the outer s electron is easier to remove
this is due to increased shielding and greater distance from the nucleus
the outer electron is held less strongly and easier to remove

Li Na K

519 kJ mol-1

494 kJ mol-1 418 kJ mol-1

GROUP II Similar trend to Group I

Group II values are greater than their Group I neighbours
increased nuclear charge = stronger pull on electron
more energy required to remove an electron
 Variation in 1st Ionisation Energy

HYDROGEN EXPLANATION
Despite having a nuclear
charge of only 1+,
Hydrogen has a relatively
1st IONISATION ENERGY / kJmol-1

high 1st Ionisation Energy

as its electron is closest to
the nucleus and has no
shielding.

1s

ATOMIC NUMBER
1
 Variation in 1st Ionisation Energy
1s
HELIUM EXPLANATION
Helium has a much higher
value because of the extra
proton in the nucleus. The
1st IONISATION ENERGY / kJmol-1

additional charge provides

a stronger attraction for the
electrons making them
harder to remove.

1s

ATOMIC NUMBER
2
 Variation in 1st Ionisation Energy
1s
LITHIUM EXPLANATION
There is a substantial drop
in the value for Lithium.
This is because the extra
1st IONISATION ENERGY / kJmol-1

electron has gone into an

orbital in the next energy
level. Despite the increased
nuclear charge, the
effective nuclear charge is
1s less because of the
shielding effect of filled
inner 1s energy level. The
2s electron is also further
away from the nucleus. It is
held less strongly and
needs less energy for
1s 2s removal.

ATOMIC NUMBER
3
 Variation in 1st Ionisation Energy
1s
BERYLLIUM EXPLANATION
The value for Beryllium is
higher than for Lithium due to
the increased nuclear
1st IONISATION ENERGY / kJmol-1

charge. There is no extra

shielding.

1s

1s 2s

1s 2s

ATOMIC NUMBER
4
 Variation in 1st Ionisation Energy
1s
BORON EXPLANATION
There is a DROP in the value
for Boron. This is because
the extra electron has gone
1st IONISATION ENERGY / kJmol-1

into one of the 2p orbitals.

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

1s 2s

ATOMIC NUMBER
5
 Variation in 1st Ionisation Energy
1s
CARBON EXPLANATION
The value increases again
for Carbon due to the
increased nuclear charge.
1st IONISATION ENERGY / kJmol-1

The extra electron does not

pair up with the previous one
in the same orbital but
occupies another of the 2p
1s orbitals. This gives a lower
energy configuration
1s 2s 2p because there is less
repulsion between the
1s 2s negatively charged particles.
This is known as Hund’s
1s 2s 2p
Rule.
1s 2s

ATOMIC NUMBER
6
 Variation in 1st Ionisation Energy
1s
NITROGEN EXPLANATION
The value increases again
for Nitrogen due to the
increased nuclear charge.
1st IONISATION ENERGY / kJmol-1

As before, the extra electron

goes into the vacant 2p
orbital. There are now three
1s 2s 2p unpaired electrons.
1s

1s 2s 2p

1s 2s

1s 2s 2p

1s 2s

ATOMIC NUMBER
7
 Variation in 1st Ionisation Energy
1s
OXYGEN EXPLANATION
There is a DROP in the value
for Oxygen. The extra
electron has paired up with
1st IONISATION ENERGY / kJmol-1

one of the electrons already

in one of the 2p orbitals. The
repulsive force beteen the
two paired-up electrons
1s 2s 2p means that less energy is
1s
1s 2s 2p required to remove one of
1s 2s 2p
them.

1s 2s

1s 2s 2p

1s 2s

ATOMIC NUMBER
8
 Variation in 1st Ionisation Energy
1s
FLUORINE EXPLANATION
The value increases again
for Fluorine due to the
increased nuclear charge.
1st IONISATION ENERGY / kJmol-1

The 2p orbitals are almost

1s 2s 2p
full.

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

1s 2s 2p

1s 2s

1s 2s 2p

1s 2s

ATOMIC NUMBER
9
 Variation in 1st Ionisation Energy
1s
NEON EXPLANATION

1s 2s 2p The value increases again

for Neon due to the
increased nuclear charge.
1st IONISATION ENERGY / kJmol-1

The 2p orbitals are now full

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

1s 2s 2p

1s 2s

1s 2s 2p

1s 2s

ATOMIC NUMBER
10
 Variation in 1st Ionisation Energy
1s
SODIUM EXPLANATION

1s 2s 2p There is a substantial drop in

the value for Sodium. This is
because the extra electron
1st IONISATION ENERGY / kJmol-1

has gone into an orbital in

1s 2s 2p the next energy level.
Despite the increased
nuclear charge, the effective
1s 2s 2p nuclear charge is less
1s
1s 2s 2p because of the shielding
1s 2s 2p
effect of filled inner 1s, 2s
and 2p energy levels.
1s 2s

1s 2s 2p

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

ATOMIC NUMBER
11
 Variation in 1st Ionisation Energy
1s
MAGNESIUM EXPLANATION

1s 2s 2p The value for Magnesium is

higher than for Sodium due
to the increased nuclear
1st IONISATION ENERGY / kJmol-1

charge. There is no extra

1s 2s 2p shielding.
The trend is similar to that at
1s 2s 2p the start of the 2nd period.
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
THE END