Successive ionization energies (in ) for an element in the third period are listed below
CHEMISTRY · Multi-part · AP · Chemistry · Atomic Structure and Properties · Atomic Structure and Properties
Problem
Successive ionization energies (in kJ mol−1) for an element in the third period are listed below.
IE1=578IE2=1817IE3=2745IE4=11600IE5=14820IE6=18380IE7=23050
Analyze these data to determine structural features of the element and to account for the magnitude of the fourth ionization energy.
(a) Based solely on the pattern in the data, determine the number of valence electrons in the neutral atom. Explain how the data support your conclusion.
(b) Identify the element and write its ground-state electron configuration using subshell notation (e.g., 1s22s2…).
(c) Provide a detailed explanation, in terms of effective nuclear charge and electron shielding, for why IE4 is more than four times larger than IE3 for this element.
(d) Predict whether the difference between IE5 and IE4 would be larger, smaller, or about the same as the difference between IE4 and IE3. Justify your prediction by discussing the shell to which the fifth electron removed belongs.