Why do alkali metals have lower ionization potentials than alkaline earth metals?

Answer 1

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Answer 2

Noble gases have the highest ionization energies of the elements because they don't "want" to lose any electrons. All atoms strive to have a full outer shell like the noble gases and once they reach their equilibrium, it takes a lot of energy to rip off another electron.

Alkali metals, by comparison, have a large atomic radius in their period --> low electronegativity --> low ionization energy.

Alkali metals have relatively large atomic radii, which means the nucleus is farther away from the electrons than in an atom with a small atomic radius. Because the electrons are far away, it is easier to rip an electron. If it is easy to take away an electron from an atom, then it has a low ionization energy.

Alkali metals have lower first ionization energy than noble gases.

Answer 3

The ionization energy increases across periods. Alkali metals are in group 1 while alkaline earth metals are in group 2. So moving from group 1 to group to group 3 .... the ionization energy increases. That's why alkali metals have less ionization energy than alkaline earth metals. But you must take them corresponding to the same period because the ionization energy decreases down a group. For example IE of Li < IE of Be while IE of Li > IE of Ba.... ( in general alkali have less IE than alkaline earth metals)

Answer 4

The first electron removed from an alkali metal comes from the s- orbital of its outermost energy level. Work is done to separate the negative electron from the pull of the positive nucleus. The first electron removed from the immediately following alkaline earth metal comes from the same s-orbital, but it must be pulled away from a greater nuclear charge, because the alkaline earth element has a proton number one greater than the alkali metal. The stronger electrostatic force between the alkaline earth nucleus and its electron means more work has to be done to separate them, or in other words, more energy has to be put in.

Answer 5

Explain why the second ionisation energy of each alkali metal is much greater than that of the halogen in the same period

Answer 6

No. Noble gases have completely filled orbitals. They are stable and chemically inert (non-reactive). So generally they do not form compounds with other elements.

Answer 7

Yes, they do.