IONIZATION ENERGY SOLVED QUESTIONS MCQ
INCREASING/DECREASING ORDER - TRENDS

Question-1) Which of the following order is correct for the first ionization energies of following elements? (EAMCET 2009)

1) B < Be < N < O 

2) Be < B < N < O 

3) B < Be < O < N 

4) B < O < Be < N

Answer:

Logic:

* Ionization energy, in general, increases with decrease in the atomic radius across the period from left to right. However there are exceptions.

* s-orbitals have greater penetration power than p-orbitals. Hence the removal of electrons from s-orbitals require more energy.

* The electrons in half filled orbitals are stable as they experience less repulsion. If there is another electron sharing same orbital, then they will be destabilized due to repulsion from each other.

* Above atoms belong to same period (2nd) of periodic table.

Solution:

* Boron, B is smaller than beryllium, Be atom. Hence we expect increase in ionization energy from Be to B.

However, Be atom has greater ionization energy than B atom. The reason is - in case of Beryllium, the last electron is in the s-orbital and in Boron, the last electron is in the p-orbital. We know that removal of electron from s-orbital requires more energy than the electron from p-orbital.

* 2s²2p³ configuration is more stable than 2s²2p⁴ due to half filled p-sublevel. The electrons in the p-orbital in N atom experience less repulsion, thus more stable and more ionization energy.  Whereas in case of O atom the 4th p-electron atom can be removed more easily as it experiences more repulsion from the electrons in the p-orbitals already present.  Hence nitrogen, Oxygen atom has less ionization energy than Nitrogen atom.

Conclusion:

The correct ionization energy order is: B < Be < O < N 

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Followup Practice questions & answers - Ionization potential

Question-2) The first ionization potential of four consecutive elements, present in the second period of the periodic table are 8.3, 11.3, 14.5 and 13.6 eV respectively. Which one of the following is the first ionization potential (in eV) of nitrogen?

(Eamcet - 2004-M) 

1) 13.6 

2) 11.3 

3) 8.3 

4) 14.5

Answer:

Logic & solution: 

The ionization energies increase regularly for the first three elements. Then there is decrease in the IE value from 3rd to 4th element. This indicates, 3rd element must possess stable configuration. Hence the third element is nitrogen.

Conclusion:

The first ionization potential (in eV) of nitrogen is 14.5. The correct option is "4".

Question-3) The electron configuration of elements A, B and C are [He]2s¹, [Ne]3s¹ and [Ar]4s¹ respectively. Which one of the following order is correct for the first ionization potentials (in kJ mol^–1) of A, B and C?

(Eamcet - 2001-E) 

1) A > B > C 

2) C > B > A 

3) B > C >A 

4) C > A > C

Logic & solution: 

The electronic configurations clearly indicate that they belong to same group of periodic table i.e. 1st group. The atomic size increases with increase in the value of principal quantum number, n  of valence orbital (from 2 to 3 to 4). Hence the ionization energy decreases from A to B to C.

Conclusion:

The correct option is "1".

Question-4) The correct order of second ionization energies of C, N, O and F is:

(IIT JEE 1991) 

1) C > N > O > F 

2) O > N > F > C 

3) O > F > N > C 

4) F > O > N > C

Answer:

Logic & solution: 

The second ionization energy refers to the energy required to remove the electron from the corresponding mono-valent cation of the respective atom. The atoms: C, N, O and F belong to 2nd period of the periodic table.

Just like second ionization energy like the first IE is affected by size, effective nuclear charge, type of orbital from which the electron is being removed and electronic configuration.

It is expected to increase from left to right in the periodic table with decrease in the atomic size. However oxygen has greater second ionization energy than fluorine and also nitrogen.

Reason: Since Oxygen atom gets stable electronic configuration, 2s²2p³ after removing one electron, the O⁺ shows greater ionization energy than F⁺ as well as N⁺. 

Hence the order of second ionization energies of above elements is: O > F > N > C.

Conclusion:

The correct option is "3".

Question-5)The incorrect statement among the following is: 

(IIT JEE 1997) 

1) The first ionization potential of Al is less than the first ionization potential of Mg. 

2) The second ionization potential of Mg is greater than the second ionization potential Na. 

3) The first ionization potential of Na is less than the first ionization potential of Mg. 

4) The third ionization potential of Mg is greater than that of Al.

Answer:

Logic & solution: 

The outer electronic configurations of atoms, univalent and divalent cations of elements mentioned in above statement are tabulated below.

Statement-1 is correct since, the electron has to be removed from full filled s-orbital, the first ionization energy of Mg is greater than that of Al. 

Statement-2 is incorrect since Na⁺ has now stable octet configuration(2s²2p⁶) and requires greater energy to remove second electron than in case of Mg⁺.

Statement-3 is correct because Mg is smaller than Na and has greater effective nuclear charge. Hence the first ionization energy of Mg is higher.

Statement-4 is also correct. It is because of stable octet configuration of Mg²⁺ formed after removing two electrons from Mg.

Conclusion:

The correct option is 2 ( the statement given is incorrect).

Question-6) The first ionization potentials of Na, Mg, Al and Si are in the order: 

(IIT JEE 1988) 

1) Na < Mg > Al < Si

2) Na < Mg < Al > Si

3) Na > Mg > Al > Si 

4) Na > Mg > Al < Si

Answer:

Logic & solution: 

They belong to same period. We can expect increase in ionization energy from Na to Si. Yet, Mg has greater ionization energy than Al due to 2s²2p⁶3s² configuration. It is more difficult to remove electron from 3s orbital than from 3p orbital since s-orbitals have greater penetration power. Moreover, Mg has stable electronic configuration with full filled 3s orbital.

Conclusion:

The correct first ionization energy order is shown in the option "1".

Question-7) The first ionization energy in electron volts of nitrogen and oxygen atom's are respectively given by:

(IIT JEE 1987) 

a) 14.6, 13.6 

b) 13.6, 14.6 

c) 13.6, 13.6 

d) 14.6, 14.6

Answer:

Logic & solution: 

Since nitrogen has greater ionization energy than oxygen, the correct option is "a".

Question-8) Which of the following species has the highest ionization potential?

(EAMCET 1998-E) 

1) Li⁺ 

2) Mg⁺ 

3) Al⁺ 

4) Ne 

Answer:

Logic & solution: 

Li⁺ has 1s² configuration, which is the configuration of He atom. Hence it should possess highest IP value.

Conclusion:

The correct option is "1".

Question-9) The set representing correct order of first ionization potential is:

(IIT JEE 2001) 

1) K > Na > Li 

2) Be > Mg > Ca 

3) B > C > N

4) Ge > Si > C 

Answer:

Logic & solution: 

1) K > Na > Li : Incorrect, since ionization energy decreases down the group with increase in size. These elements belong to  same group (1st). The correct order of first ionization energy should be: K < Na < Li.

2) Be > Mg > Ca : Correct. These are 2nd group elements and the order correctly reflects trend in ionization energy.

3) B > C > N: Incorrect. They belong to same period and the order should be reverse since the IP values increase from left to right in a period.

4) Ge > Si > C : Incorrect: Belong to same group (14th).The order must be in reverse.

Conclusion:

The correct option is "2".

Question-10) Amongst the following elements (whose electronic configurations are given below), the one having the highest ionization energy is:

(IIT JEE 1990) 

a) [Ne] 3s² 3p¹ 

b) [Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p²

c) [Ne] 3s² 3p² 

d) [Ne] 3s² 3p³

Answer:

Logic & solution: 

Based on electronic configuration of elements, their positions in the periodic table can be assigned as shown below.

The element with electronic configuration [Ne] 3s² 3p³ is on the extreme right and with stable 3p³ configuration (half filled sub level). Hence it should have highest IE value.

Conclusion:

The correct option is "d".

Question-11) The increasing order of the first ionization enthalpies of the elements B, P, S and F (lowest first) is:

(AIEEE 2006) 

a) F < S < P < B 

b) P < S < B < F 

c) B < P < S < F 

d) B < S < P < F

Answer:

Logic & solution: 

Fluorine, being the smallest has the highest ionization enthalpy among the given elements. 

Phosphorus has 3s²3p³ configuration with half filled p-sub level. Hence it has higher IP value than Sulfur.

Conclusion:

The correct option is "d".

Question-12) The correct order of ionization energy for the following species is:

(AdiChemistry IIT JEE NEET 2018) 

1) He < Li⁺ < H^-

2) H^- < Li⁺ < He 

3) H < Li⁺ < He 

4) H^- < He < Li⁺

Answer:

Logic & solution: 

All the species have the same electronic configuration i.e. 1s². But theenergy required to remove the outer electron increases with decrease in the negative charge (or increase in the positive charge). 

Conclusion:

The correct option is 4.

Question-13) Which of the following atoms has the highest first ionization energy?

(IIT JEE MAIN 2016) 

(1) Na

(2) K

(3) Sc

(4) Rb 

Answer:

Logic & solution: 

All the atoms, except scandium belong to alkali metals. Scandium belongs to 3rd group (II B). it is a of d-block element - a transition metal. Its atomic radius is smaller than the other given atoms. Hence it is expected to have higher ionization energy among the given options.

	1 (I A)	3 (II B)
Period 3	Na (11) ---> [Ne] 3s1
Period 4	K (19) ---> [Ar] 4s1	Sc (21) ---> [Ar] 3d1 5s2
Period 5	Rb (37) ---> [Kr] 5s1

 

Conclusion:

The correct option is 3.

IONIZATION ENERGY - FOLLOWUP PRACTICE QUESTIONS & PROBLEMS WITH ANSWERS

Question-1) The increasing order of second ionization energies of Na, Ne, Mg and Al is __________ .

Answer: Na  > Ne > Al > Mg 

Information: The second ionization energies (in kJ mol^-1) are: Na (4563), Ne (3963), Al (1820), Mg (1450).

Question-2) The correct increasing order of effective nuclear charge among the elements O, F, Ne, C, N is _______ .

Answer: C < N < O < F < Ne

Explanation: On moving from left to right in the periodic table in a period, the effective nuclear charge increases.

Question-3) Lowest IP will be shown by the element having the configuration:

A) [He] 2s²

B) [He] 2s² 2p²

C) 1s²

D) [He] 2s² 2p³ 

Question-Answer:  B

Question-4) Which element in the periodic table has the highest ionization potential?

Answer: Helium (He) has the highest first ionization energy (IE₁).

Question-5) The electronic configuration with the highest ionization enthalpy is ________

Answer: 1s².

Question-6) Which of the following has maximum ionisation potential ?

A) F

B) Mg²⁺

C) He⁺

D) Li⁺

Answer:  D

Information: Ionization potential values in kJ/mol: F (1680), Mg²⁺ (1450), He⁺ (5250), Li⁺ (7292)

Question-7) Which of the following is the correct sequence for increasing order (i.e. smallest to largest) of first ionization energy (IE₁)?

A) O > C > F

B) O > N > F

C) N > C > F

D) F > N > O

Answer:  D

Question-8) Which order about ionization enthalpy is correct?

 (a) N>O>F     (b) N<O<F     (c) N>O<F      (d) N<O>F

Answer: c  

Question-9) The decreasing order of the ionization potential of the following elements is:

 (a) Ne>Cl>P>S>Al>Mg     (b) Ne>Cl>P>S>Mg>Al     (c) Ne>Cl>S>P>Mg>Al       (d) Ne>Cl>S>P>Al>Mg

Answer: b

 Question-10) In 3d series second ionisation potentials are high for _______ and ______

Answer: Copper & Nickel.

Note: Next is for Zinc.