Chemical elements ionization energy

The stability of the electronic configuration is indicated by the fact that each element has the highest ionization energy in its period, though the value decreases down the group as a result of increasing size of the atoms. For the heavier elements is it actually smaller than for first-row elements such as O and F with consequences for the chemical reactivities of the noble gases which will be considered in the next section. Nuclear properties, particularly for xenon, have been exploited for nmr spectroscopy and Mdssbauer... 

The ionization energy, electron affinity, and orbital occupancy determine the chemical behavior, or reactivity, of the elements. The uppermost (high-est-energy) occupied orbitals are called the valence orbitals the electrons occupying them are the valence electrons. An element s ionization energy, the energy required to remove an electron from a neutral atom, is related to its reactivity A low ionization energy means that the valence electron is readily removed, and the element is likely to become involved in... 

These correlations between ionization energy and chemical properties confirm the idea that the electronic structure of an element determines its chemical behavior. In particular, the most weakly bound electrons are of greatest importance in this respect. We shall call the electrons that are most loosely bound, the valence electrons. 

All the elements in a main group have in common a characteristic valence electron configuration. The electron configuration controls the valence of the element (the number of bonds that it can form) and affects its chemical and physical properties. Five atomic properties are principally responsible for the characteristic properties of each element atomic radius, ionization energy, electron affinity, electronegativity, and polarizability. All five properties are related to trends in the effective nuclear charge experienced by the valence electrons and their distance from the nucleus. 

The valence electron configuration of the atoms of the Group 2 elements is ns1. The second ionization energy is low enough to be recovered from the lattice enthalpy (Fig. 14.18). Flence, the Group 2 elements occur with an oxidation number of +2, as the cation M2+, in all their compounds. Apart from a tendency toward nonmetallic character in beryllium, the elements have all the chemical characteristics of metals, such as forming basic oxides and hydroxides. 

In the same chapter (Chapter 5), as an introduction to the paragraphs dedicated to the various groups of metals, the values relevant to a number of elementary properties have been collected. These are atomic properties (such as metallic and ionic radii, ionization energies, electronegativities, Mendeleev number, chemical scale, Miedema parameters, etc.), crystal structure and lattice parameters data of the allotropes of the elements, and selected thermodynamic data (melting and boiling temperatures and enthalpies, etc.). All these data indeed represent reference values in the discussion of the alloying behaviour of the elements. 

Another notable difference in properties down groups is the inert psiir effect > as demonstrated by the chemical behaviour of Tl, Pb and Bi. The main oxidation states of these elements are + I, + 2 and + 3, respectively, which are lower by two units than those expected from the behaviour of the lighter members of each group. There is a smaller, but similar, effect in the chemistry of In, Sn and Sb. These effects are partially explained by the relativistic effects on the appropriate ionization energies, which make the achievement of the higher oxidation states (the participation of the pair of s-electrons in chemical bonding) relatively more difficult. 

Figure 2.5 Dependence of ionization degree a on first ionization energy Et of chemical elements by inductively coupled plasma ionization.

Owing to lanthanide contraction, niobium and tantalum have virtually identical atomic rad (1.47 A) and close ionization energies (Nb6.67, Ta7.3eV), and usually display very similt chemical behavior. Some definite differences can however be noted these can usually be trace to the lower sensitivity of tantalum to reduction and to its higher affinity for dioxygen. lb tantalum-element multiple bonds are usually stabler, while MfiXg arrangements are so ft known only for niobium. 

Spark source (SSMS) and thermal emission (TEMS) mass spectrometry are used to determine ppb to ppm quantities of elements in energy sources such as coal, fuel oil, and gasoline. Toxic metals—cadmium, mercury, lead, and zinc— may be determined by SSMS with an estimated precision of 5%, and metals which ionize thermally may be determined by TEMS with an estimated precision of 1% using the isotope dilution technique. An environmental study of the trace element balance from a coal-fired steam plant was done by SSMS using isotope dilution to determine the toxic metals and a general scan technique for 15 other elements using chemically determined iron as an internal standard. In addition, isotope dilution procedures for the analysis of lead in gasoline and uranium in coal and fly ash by TEMS are presented. 

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