Help with this chem question please

Hi, I'm stuck on how to answer this 1 mark question in terms of wording it correctly.
"Explain why the second ionisation energy of boron is higher than the first ionisation energy of boron".
How would you guys word the answer to this so its to the point and gets the mark?

Reply 1

smozsolution

You're removing a negatively charged electron from a positively charged ion, you need high energy to overcome the forces of attraction.

Hope that helps :smile:

Reply 2

dwbailey

Thanks, I was confused to whether it jumping from p orbital to s orbital was the reason

Reply 3

MedAppli

Original post by smozsolution

You're removing a negatively charged electron from a positively charged ion, you need high energy to overcome the forces of attraction.

Hope that helps :smile:

That's not sufficient, you need to talk about how it's in the 2s as opposed to the 2p orbital which is a lower energy, also he ratio between negative and positive charge has increased and so each one is held more closely to the nucleus

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Reply 4

smozsolution

Original post by MedAppli

It's only one mark so I was quite brief with my answer.

Talking about that for a one mark question is a bit long winded.

Reply 5

MedAppli

Your answer explains why there is ionization energy and not why one is bigger than the other

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Reply 6

smozsolution

Original post by MedAppli

Your answer explains why there is ionization energy and not why one is bigger than the other

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My answer explains why the second ionisation energy is larger than the first, as per what the question asked.

Have a look here on page 5 under the question "Why are successive ionisation energies always larger?".

Reply 7

victoria1235

smozsolution is correct. Basically he/she is trying to say that the energy needed to remove one mole of electrons from one mole of neutral boron gaseous atoms is smaller than that needed to remove one mole of electrons from one mole of gaseous boron ions with a SINGLE positive charge. Due to the stronger electrostatic forces of attraction in the latter case, the second ionisation energy is more endothermic such that the extra attractive force can be overcome. Hope that helps!