What is the trend in first ionisation energy across a period?

Overall, the general trend is an increase across the period.

The decrease in shielding (as outer electrons are less influenced by the nucleus) is outweighed by an increased nuclear charge and a decreased atomic radius.

However, the value actually decreases between group 2 and 3. This is a result of the electronic configurations of these elements. The outermost electron in Be (in a 2s orbital) is less easily removed than that of B (in a 2p orbital). The same occurs from group 5 and 6.

BW

Related Chemistry GCSE answers

All answers ▸

Balance the equation for the reaction of sodium hydroxide with sulphuric acid.


Describe dynamic equilibrium with reference to a process you have been learning in class.


In aqueous solution, sulphuric acid dissociates into ions in 2 stages. The pKa for the first dissociation is -3. Calculate the pH of a 0.025 mol dm-3 solution of sulphuric acid using the pKa value of the 1st dissociation.


Which substance is oxidised in the reaction represented by the ionic equation below? Zn(s) + Cu2+(aq) → Zn2+(aq) + Cu(s)