Why does the first ionisation energy increase across period 3?

The 1st ionisation energy is defined as the energy required to remove the outermost electron from one mole of gaseous atoms, forming one mole of gaseous 1+ ions. Moving from left to right the proton number increases across a period, therefore the nucleus becomes more positively charged. This increasing positive charge creates greater nuclear attraction between the positively charged nucleus and the negatively charges outermost electrons. Therefore more energy is required to remove these electrons from the atom. In the third period all of the outermost electrons occupy the third shell so electron shielding is constant and will not affect the ionisation energy. Referring back to the Definition of 1st ionisation, if the energy to remove the outermost electron increases then so to does the 1st ionisation energy.

Answered by Hamish P. Chemistry tutor

1248 Views

See similar Chemistry A Level tutors

Related Chemistry A Level answers

All answers ▸

How can you work out, using the changes in oxidation numbers, which compound out of KCl, KBr and KI has the greatest reducing power?


How does the structure and bonding of alkanes differ to that of alkenes?


Explain what happens to a crystal of iodine when it is heated (5marks)


Why can there be one major product and one minor product after electrophilic addition takes place across a double bond?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact usWhatsapp logoMessage us on Whatsapptelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

© MyTutorWeb Ltd 2013–2024

Terms & Conditions|Privacy Policy