Does Mg or Al have the higher first ionisation energy? Explain your answer.

Al has the higher first ionisation energy. Mg electronic configuration is [Ne]3s2 whereas Al configuration is [Ne]3s23p1. To remove the electron from Al, it has to be removed from the 3p orbital, as oppose to the 3s orbital in Mg. The 3p orbital is further away from the nucleus than the 3s orbital therefore would need more energy to remove it, making Al have a higher ionisation energy than Mg.

KR
Answered by Kathryn R. Chemistry tutor

4246 Views

See similar Chemistry A Level tutors

Related Chemistry A Level answers

All answers ▸

What happens to the physical properties(solubility/boiling/melting point) as chain length increases, and as functional groups are added onto the chemical compound?


Nitrous acid, HNO2, is a weak Bronsted-Lowry acid with a Ka value of 4.43x10-4 mol dm-3. Calculate the pH of 0.375 mol dm-3 of HNO2.


What is the acid dissociation constant, Ka of the 0.150 mol dm–3 solution of weak acid HA with pH of 2.34?


What is the pH of 0.10 mol.dm^(-3) sodium hydroxide solution, NaOH?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2025 by IXL Learning