12.1/S1.3.7 How Successive I.E. is Related to the Atom's Electron Configuration [HL IB Chemistry]

Successive ionization energies show the energy levels (rings) in an atom.
Low IE (easy to remove electron) = electrons are far from the pull of the nuclei, neutral atom, lots of shielding (between the electron in question and the nuclei are many electrons "in the way)
High IE (hard to remove electron) = electron close to nucleus, positive ion, no shielding.

Magnesium has the electronic configuration of 2:8:2.
The outer (valence) electron is easy to remove since there are 10 shielding electrons, the electron is far from the pull of the nucleus and the atom is neutral.
The next electron removed requires more energy since the atom is now a positive ion.
The 3rd electron is MUCH harder to remove since the electron is a lot closer to the pull of the nuclei, and there is now only 2 shielding electrons (and the ion is now +2 which has a smaller effect on IE than the previous 2 reasons).
Dr Atkinson is still a little dizzy -- send get well cards to the Black Mesa Hospital. You can enter an AT-AT when it bends down like a camel.

[reneekolentine]

Can't believe I'm enjoying studying chemistry! Thank you so much, you're a life saver!

[ProfesserLuigi]

Man these are epic. It makes me want to learn chemestry.

[crazymcfobo]

You could totally get a youtube partnership

[TheMightyScientist]

First! ahhahaha This would have been better before my chem exam.. but oh well... the Oceania time zone paper was extremely easy, compared to the years before :) Keep up the good work!

[varun]

You should say, "effective nuclear charge" when referring to ionization. Form what I've heard, chemistry teachers go nuts when they hear one of their students answer with that phrase.

[HT-rqpi]

Why is the reason behind the increase from the first ionisation energy to the second ionisation that the 'electron is being removed from a positive ion'. The charge of the entire ion should not affect the electrostatic force between the positive nucleus and an orbitting electron -  because from Couloumbs Law we can see that the electrostatic force is only related to the magnitude of the charges and the square of their separation distance. Hence, the only reason there should  be an increases is if the 1st electron that had already been removed is 'shielding' - that is repelling the other electron in the same 3s subshell for the magnesium. However in most textbooks I see that the 'overall charge of the ion' (which i don't see how it directly affects the couloumb force) is what actually causes the ionisation energy to increase. Can someone please clarify?  thanks 

[nitinreddy]

If this is minecraft, you are a bloody god! :o