Ionization energy/Reactivity.

NewChemTeache

I read this here:

http://chemistry.about.com/od/chemis...ationenerg.htm

The higher the ionization energy, the more difficult it is to remove an electron. Therefore, ionization energy is in indicator of reactivity.



So my question is:

How does this explain the high reactivity of the halogens?

- I understand that they will remove electrons from other elements to achieve a noble gas configuration, but that statement above seems to disagree with how the akali metals can have a low ionization energy and be very reactive and the halogens have a very high ionization energy and be very reactive.

Please explain.

Thank you,
Rob

Borek

Yes, the wording seems to be slightly misleading. Low ionization energy suggests high reactivity, no doubt about it, but high ionization energy not necessarily means non-reactive. Although in most cases it does, as there are many more metals than non-metals in periodic table.