Why does ionisation energy increase across a period?

As you go across the period, the nuclear charge (or number of protons increase) but the shielding (or the number of shells) stays the same as all of the elements are on the same period. This causes the nuclear attraction between the nucleus (that is positive) and outermost electron (that is negative) to increase, so the distance between them, also called the atomic radius, decreases.This attraction makes it harder to lose that electron and so the energy to remove it (the ionisation energy) increases as you go across the period

Answered by Anjali P. Chemistry tutor

1497 Views

See similar Chemistry A Level tutors

Related Chemistry A Level answers

All answers ▸

What is electronegativity?


Calculate the mass of sodium amide needed to obtain 550 g of sodium azide, assuming there is a 95.0% yield of sodium azide. Give your answer to 3 significant figures.


Explain the trend in atomic radii from Lithium to Fluorine?


State an explain the result of an increase in temperature on the following equilibria: N2 (g) + 02 (g) <-> 2 NO (g) (delta H = +180kJmol-1)


We're here to help

contact us iconContact usWhatsapp logoMessage us on Whatsapptelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo
Cookie Preferences