1.1.6

Ionisation Energy

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Equation for Ionisation Energy

The ionisation energy of an atom can be well defined by its ionisation equation.

Illustrative background for The electronsIllustrative background for The electrons ?? "content

The electrons

  • Ionisation is the reaction where one electron is removed from an atom.
    • There will be one electron in the product of the equation.
    • So we will always have an e term on the right-hand side of the equation.
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The charges

  • We must understand the charges on the atom during the reaction.
    • During ionisation, we remove one electron from an atom.
    • As the negative electron is removed, the atom's charge will increase by 1.
      • E.g. the second ionisation of Na converts Na+ → Na2+.
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The state symbols

  • Ionisation energies are always defined as being in the gas phase.
    • So atomic species of any charge, on either side of the equation, will have the state symbol (g).
    • We do not define the state of the electron - it has no state symbol.
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Overall equation

  • Putting all these three features together, we gain the ionisation energy equation.
  • This is best shown by a few examples.
    • The first ionisation energy equation of Na:
      • Na(g) → e + Na +(g)
    • The second ionisation energy equation of Mg:
      • Mg+(g) → e + Mg 2+(g)

Ionisation Energies

A specific amount of energy is needed to remove an electron from an atom or ion.

Illustrative background for First ionisation energyIllustrative background for First ionisation energy ?? "content

First ionisation energy

  • The first ionisation energy is the energy required to remove an electron from every atom in a mole of atomic gas, to produce a mole of unipositive gaseous ions.
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Second ionisation energy

  • The second ionisation energy is the energy required to remove an electron from every ion in a mole of unipositive gaseous ions, to produce a mole of dipositive gaseous ions.
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Third ionisation energy

  • The third ionisation energy is the energy required to remove an electron from every ion in a mole of dipositive gaseous ions, to produce a mole of tripositive gaseous ions.
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Fourth ionisation energy

  • Do you see the pattern?
Illustrative background for N<sup>th</sup> ionisation energyIllustrative background for N<sup>th</sup> ionisation energy ?? "content

Nth ionisation energy

  • Overall we can form the equation shown here for the nth ionisation.
    • Note the value n, for the nth ionisation, is the value of the charge on the ion in the PRODUCTS.

Jump to other topics

1Physical Chemistry

2Physical Chemistry 2 (A2 Only)

3Inorganic Chemistry

4Inorganic Chemistry 2 (A2 Only)

5Organic Chemistry 1

6Organic Chemistry 2 (A2 Only)

6.1Optical Isomerism (A2 Only)

6.2Aldehydes & Ketones (A2 Only)

6.3Carboxylic Acids & Esters (A2 Only)

6.4Aromatic Chemistry (A2 Only)

6.5Amines (A2 Only)

6.6Polymers (A2 Only)

6.7Biological Organic (A2 Only)

6.8Organic Synthesis (A2 Only)

6.9NMR Spectroscopy (A2 Only)

6.10Chromatography (A2 Only)

6.11A-A* (AO3/4) - Organic 2

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