Successive Ionization Energies
Hardchemistry
A large jump between 2nd and 3rd ionization energies suggests element has how many valence electrons?
Select the correct option:
Solution
Incorrect! Answer:
2
- Removal logic: Ionization energy increases for each successive electron removed.
- Jump Explanation: A sudden, huge increase in IE occurs when an electron is removed from a completely filled, stable inner core (noble gas shell).
- Valence Counting: If the jump is between IE2 and IE3, it means the first two electrons were 'easy' to remove (valence electrons), but the third one was 'hard' (inner core).
- Conclusion: The element has 2 valence electrons and belongs to Group 2 (Alkaline Earth Metals).
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About This Question
- Subject
- chemistry
- Chapter
- classification of elements and periodicity in properties
- Topic
- successive ionization energies
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Year
- 2025
Solution
Correct Answer:
2
- Removal logic: Ionization energy increases for each successive electron removed.
- Jump Explanation: A sudden, huge increase in IE occurs when an electron is removed from a completely filled, stable inner core (noble gas shell).
- Valence Counting: If the jump is between IE2 and IE3, it means the first two electrons were 'easy' to remove (valence electrons), but the third one was 'hard' (inner core).
- Conclusion: The element has 2 valence electrons and belongs to Group 2 (Alkaline Earth Metals).
This hard difficulty chemistry question is from the chapter classification of elements and periodicity in properties, covering the topic of successive ionization energies. It appeared in the 2025 exam.
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