Question

As you move from left to right on the periodic table, what generally happens to the ionization energy?

• A. It decreases
• B. It remains constant
• C. It decreases, then increases
• D. It increases, then decreases
• E. It increases

Answer 1

The correct option is E It increases

Left to right ionization energy increases.

The ionization energy is the energy required to remove an electron from its orbital around an atom to a point where it is no longer associated with that atom.

The ionization energy of an element increases as one moves across a period in the periodic table because the electrons are held tighter by the higher effective nuclear charge.

The ionization energy of the elements increases as one moves up a given group because the electrons are held in lower-energy orbitals, closer to the nucleus and therefore are more tightly bound (harder to remove).

Hence, the correct option is E.