Question

Which of the atoms below would you expect to have the largest 3rd ionization energy?

A) Sodium (Na)
B) Magnesium (Mg)
C) Aluminum (Al)
D) Silicon (Si)
E) Phosphorus (P)

Answer 1

Aluminum (Al) is expected to have the largest 3rd ionization energy due to its higher number of valence electrons.

Step-by-step explanation:

The atom with the largest 3rd ionization energy would be Aluminum (Al).

Ionization energy is the energy required to remove an electron from an atom. It increases across a period from left to right in the periodic table because the effective nuclear charge increases, making it more difficult to remove an electron.

Aluminum has a higher ionization energy compared to Sodium (Na), Magnesium (Mg), Silicon (Si), and Phosphorus (P) because it has 13 electrons and 3 valence electrons, which are closer to the nucleus, leading to stronger attraction and higher ionization energy.