Which of the following statements is correct and provides the best explanation for what happens when the first two electrons are removed from calcium?
A) Energy is released when either electron comes off since calcium is a metal and not very electronegative.
B) It takes less energy to remove the second electron from calcium as compared to the first because calcium wants to have eight electrons in its outer shell (and thus have a noble gas configuration).
C) It takes less energy to remove the first electron as compared to the second because it is in a higher energy level than the second electron.
D) It takes more energy to remove the second electron as compared to the first because the nucleus binds the electrons more tightly as each electron is removed.
E) Electrons cannot be removed from calcium since it is a metal and only wants to gain electrons to become more stable.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

It takes more energy to remove the second electron from calcium than the first because after the first electron is removed, the effective nuclear charge experienced by the remaining electrons increases, making the second electron more tightly bound to the nucleus.

Which of the Following Statements Is Correct and Provides the Best