Which of the following concerning second ionization energies is true?
A)That of Al is higher than that of Mg because Mg wants to lose the second electron,so it is easier to take the second electron away.
B)That of Al is higher than that of Mg because the electrons are taken from the same energy level,but the Al atom has one more proton.
C)That of Al is lower than that of Mg because Mg wants to lose the second electron,thus the energy change is greater.
D)That of Al is lower than that of Mg because the second electron taken from Al is in a p orbital,thus it is easier to take.
E)The second ionization energies are equal for Al and Mg.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The second ionization energy measures the energy required to remove a second electron from a positively charged ion. In the case of Mg and Al, both elements have two electrons in their outermost energy level (3s), so the first electron removal takes similar energy. However, Al has one more proton in its nucleus than Mg, meaning the positive charge is stronger and the electrons are held more tightly. Therefore, it takes more energy to remove the second electron from Al, making its second ionization energy greater than that of Mg.

Which of the Following Concerning Second Ionization Energies Is True