Question:
AP Chemistry?
sarah
2008-01-03 18:12:54 UTC
Use principle of atomic structure and/or chemical bonding to answer of each of the following.

(a) The radius of the Ca atom is 0.197 nanometer; the radius of the Ca2+ ion is 0.099 nanometer. Account for this difference.

Ionization Energy
First Second
K 419 3,050
Ca 590 1,140

(b)Explain the difference between Ca and K in regard to:
(i)their first ionization energies
(ii)their second ionization energies.

(c)The first ionization energy of Mg is 738 kilojoules per mole and that of Al is 578 kilojoules per mole. Account for this difference.
Four answers:
Lucas C
2008-01-03 18:34:08 UTC
All right, the calcium atom, when ionized, loses two electrons; specifically, it loses the two electrons in its valence energy level. In the case of calcium, its valence energy level is its fourth energy level. With the fourth energy level depleted, the third energy level is exposed, whose radius is smaller (naturally) than the fourth energy level. Hence, the radius of the Ca2+ ion is understandably smaller than the radius of the Ca atom.



Potassium has 19 protons and 19 electrons, while calcium has 20 of each. As a result, there is a greater electrostatic attraction between a Ca nucleus and its electrons than there is between a K nucleus and its electrons. The valence electron in a potassium atom therefore sits further away from the nucleus and is more easily plucked off (which is to say, it requires less energy to be removed from the atom). Calcium's first valence electron is slightly more difficult to remove because it is closer to the positively charged nucleus.



The second ionization energy of potassium is a whole lot larger than the first ionization energy. This is because the removal of the first electron from a potassium atom leaves behind (A) a positive ion and (B) an ion whose valence energy level has a noble gas configuration ([Ar]). Because this configuration is very stable, removing a second electron from a K+ ion requires an enormous expenditure of energy. K2+ ions could only exist in very high-energy environments.



The second ionization energy of calcium IS higher than its first ionization energy. You are, after all, removing an electron from a positively charged ion; however, the Ca+ ion does not have a noble gas configuration, so it easily loses a second electron to achieve one. If you were to look up calcium's THIRD ionization energy, you would find it to be tremendously higher than the second, just as potassium's second ionization energy is much higher than its first.



To ionize magnesium once (Mg --> Mg+), you have to remove an electron from a complete s-sublevel, a fairly stable environment. The Mg+ ion is thermodynamically less stable than either the Mg atom or the Mg2+ ion, which is why you rarely see it in nature. The first electron removed from aluminum, however, comes not from a complete s-sublevel, but from a half-filled p-orbital. It shouldn't take as much energy to remove that first electron since doing so doesn't disrupt a fairly stable electron arrangement. Removing the SECOND electron from Al+, however, WILL form a half-empty s-orbital. As a result, you would expect aluminum's second ionization energy to be considerably larger than it's first (and not just because it involves ionizing a cation).



I know that's more than you needed, but my goal is to help you understand rather than just doing your homework for you. I hope it helps and good luck.
me
2008-01-04 02:41:51 UTC
a)When Ca become an ion it loses electrons from it's outer energy level, it loses an entire level of orbiting electons. Since the positive atoms in the nucleus and the electrons are now closer together in general, the attraction between the two is greater, shrinking the atom even more.



b)Ionization energy is the energy needed to remove an electron from it's atom. Atoms that are more likely to form positive ions are have lower ionization energies because they don't want to lost electrons. If you want to gain an electron, you wouldn't want it to be easy for you to lose electrons? So they made it tough by insisting that a lot of energy is needed in such circumstances. Also, the more electrons an aton loses, the tougher it gets to keep pn losing them. ie, ionization energy will increase. Finally, the closer an atom is to becoming a "noble gas configuration" (ie "stable") the easier it is for it to lose electrons. Since K is only one away from becoming stable (like Ar, a noble gas) it's ionization energy is lower than Ca, which needs to lose 2 to become stable. However, once K reacher Ar IT IS STABLE and DOESN'T WANT TO LOSE ANY MORE ELECTRONS. So it takes a lot of effort to take any more from it. Ca, however, is now tantalizingly close to becoming stable so it's second ionization level is low.



Oh! man! too slow of a typer, someone answered before me. oh, well, hope this helps you!
chem geek
2008-01-04 02:38:19 UTC
(a) you can look at it one of two ways:

(1) the Ca2+ ion has lost the entire 4s orbital so it's size should be smaller

(2) the Ca2+ ion has a higher effective nuclear charge on the valence electrons than the Ca atom - the higher effective nuclear charge pulls the valence electrons towards the nucleus and decreases the size



(b)(i) K has a lower effective nuclear charge on its valence electron and can be removed easier



(b)(ii) the second ionization energy for K would be taking a core electron with a very high effective nuclear charge



(c) the valence electron in Al is in the p sublevel which has a higher energy than the valence electron in Mg or the effective nuclear charge for Al is slightly smaller
some guy
2008-01-06 23:52:18 UTC
(c) Al has a p sublevel. There are more e-, so there is more electron repulsion as well.


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