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Q.Define IE1 and IE2. Why IE2 > IE1 for the given atom? Discuss any four factors that affect IE of an element.

Telangana TsbieTelangana Board of Intermediate Education (Intermediate 1st Year) 2019Subjective· 8mImportance★★★★★
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IE1 removes the first electron from a neutral gaseous atom, IE2 the second from the +1 ion; IE2 > IE1 because pulling an electron off a positive ion is harder. IE depends on nuclear charge, atomic size, shielding effect and electronic configuration.

Definitions:

  • First ionisation enthalpy (IE1): the minimum energy required to remove the most loosely bound electron from an isolated gaseous atom in its ground state. M(g) -> M+(g) + e-; delta H = IE1
  • Second ionisation enthalpy (IE2): the energy required to remove the next electron from the resulting unipositive gaseous ion. M+(g) -> M2+(g) + e-; delta H = IE2

Why IE2 > IE1:

After the first electron is removed, the species becomes a positive ion (M+). In this ion:

  • There are now more protons than electrons, so each remaining electron feels a greater effective nuclear attraction.
  • The ion is smaller than the neutral atom, so the remaining electrons are held more tightly. Hence more energy is needed to remove the second electron, i.e. IE2 > IE1 (in general, successive ionisation enthalpies always increase).

Factors that affect ionisation enthalpy:

  1. Nuclear charge (Z): A higher nuclear charge attracts the electrons more strongly, so IE increases with increasing nuclear charge (across a period).

  2. Atomic size (radius): The larger the atom, the farther the outermost electron from the nucleus and the weaker the attraction, so IE decreases as atomic size increases (down a group).

  3. Shielding (screening) effect of inner electrons: Inner electrons repel and shield the outer electrons from the nucleus. Greater shielding reduces the effective nuclear charge on the valence electron, so IE decreases as shielding increases.

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