- #1
Bladibla
- 358
- 1
Hello all
I was asked a question on the first ionisation energy of Lithium and berylium, and it confused me.
It seemed obvious to other people in the class that Berylium has a higher ionisation energy than Lithium (which according to my chemistry teacher is the right answer)
Now This baffled me. Lithium has 2 electrons in its 1S shell and a single electron in its 2S shell, while Berylium has 2 electrons in its 1S shell and 2 electrons in its 2S shell.
If looking at the repelling property or electrons (to each other, that is) shouldn't Berylium have a lower ionisation energy than Lithium?
My chemistry teacher said that because of the increase in nuclear charge (from lithium) Berylium will have a higher ionisation energy, but we must also consider the increase in the number of electrons from lithium to berylium.
In berylium, not only will the 2S electrons repell each other, but they wil lsti.ll have repulsion from the 1S shell as well!
Please forgive me if this was a dumb question (i.e. i just forgot a bit of detail)
I was asked a question on the first ionisation energy of Lithium and berylium, and it confused me.
It seemed obvious to other people in the class that Berylium has a higher ionisation energy than Lithium (which according to my chemistry teacher is the right answer)
Now This baffled me. Lithium has 2 electrons in its 1S shell and a single electron in its 2S shell, while Berylium has 2 electrons in its 1S shell and 2 electrons in its 2S shell.
If looking at the repelling property or electrons (to each other, that is) shouldn't Berylium have a lower ionisation energy than Lithium?
My chemistry teacher said that because of the increase in nuclear charge (from lithium) Berylium will have a higher ionisation energy, but we must also consider the increase in the number of electrons from lithium to berylium.
In berylium, not only will the 2S electrons repell each other, but they wil lsti.ll have repulsion from the 1S shell as well!
Please forgive me if this was a dumb question (i.e. i just forgot a bit of detail)