Highest second ionization energy of elements

[jewilki1]

Which element in each of the following sets would you expect to have the highest second ionization energy? How do I figure this out?

a. Na, Mg, Al b. Na, K, Fe c. Li, Be, Mg

Can you help me?

Thanks

 

[cronxeh]

http://chemed.chem.purdue.edu/genchem/topicreview/bp/ch7/graphics/7chart1.gif

http://chemed.chem.purdue.edu/genchem/topicreview/bp/ch7/graphics/ch7_12.gif

 

[Blueshift5]

for reaching out for help. I am happy to assist you with your question.

To figure out which element in each set would have the highest second ionization energy, we need to understand what ionization energy is. Ionization energy is the energy required to remove an electron from an atom or ion.

In general, the second ionization energy is higher than the first ionization energy because it takes more energy to remove an electron from a positively charged ion compared to a neutral atom. This is because the positive charge of the ion increases the attraction between the remaining electrons and the nucleus, making it more difficult to remove another electron.

Now, let's look at each set of elements:

a. Na, Mg, Al: In this set, aluminum (Al) would be expected to have the highest second ionization energy. This is because aluminum already has a relatively high first ionization energy due to its small atomic size and strong nuclear charge. Therefore, it would require even more energy to remove a second electron from an aluminum ion.

b. Na, K, Fe: In this set, iron (Fe) would be expected to have the highest second ionization energy. Iron has a higher nuclear charge and smaller atomic size compared to sodium and potassium, making it more difficult to remove a second electron from an iron ion.

c. Li, Be, Mg: In this set, beryllium (Be) would be expected to have the highest second ionization energy. Beryllium has a small atomic size and high nuclear charge, making it more difficult to remove a second electron from a beryllium ion compared to lithium and magnesium.

I hope this helps you understand how to figure out which element would have the highest second ionization energy in each set. If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to ask. Good luck!