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Elements of Life

Ionisation enthalpy and trends in reactivity

  • 4 things to know
  • Components 01, 02 and 03

Overview

Recall questions on writing an ionisation equation, the trends across a period and down a group, and reading a group from successive ionisation enthalpies.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started
Numbers

What are the equations for the first ionisation of magnesium and of chlorine, and the second ionisation of calcium?

Key term

Why does first ionisation enthalpy rise across a period, why is sulfur's lower than phosphorus's, and which Period 3 element is highest?

Numbers

Would potassium or rubidium have the lower first ionisation enthalpy, and which groups do elements with successive ionisation enthalpies 590, 1150, 4940, 6480 and 1310, 3390, 5320, 7450, 11000, 13300, 71300 belong to?

Key term

Why is calcium more reactive than magnesium?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    Define the first ionisation enthalpy of an element.

    Model answer

    It is the enthalpy change when one mole of gaseous atoms each loses one electron to form one mole of gaseous 1+ ions.

  2. 2

    Why does the definition of ionisation enthalpy specify gaseous atoms?

    Model answer

    So that the value measures only the energy needed to pull the electron away from an isolated atom, with no contribution from attractions between neighbouring atoms in a solid or liquid.

  3. 3

    Write the equation representing the first ionisation of magnesium.

    Model answer

    Mg(g) → Mg⁺(g) + e⁻.

  4. 4

    Write the equation representing the first ionisation of chlorine.

    Model answer

    Cl(g) → Cl⁺(g) + e⁻.

  5. 5

    Write the equation representing the second ionisation of calcium.

    Model answer

    Ca⁺(g) → Ca²⁺(g) + e⁻.

  6. 6

    Is ionisation endothermic or exothermic, and why?

    Model answer

    It is endothermic, because energy must be supplied to overcome the attraction between the positive nucleus and the electron being removed.

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