Is it true that lithium needs less energy to knock off an electron from its outermost orbit than helium? And why?

Open in App

Solution

In Lithium, 2 electrons are in the first orbit and the remaining electron is in the second orbit. This electron experiences less attraction from the nucleus due to the increased distance of the orbit. Also, the electrons in the first orbit repel the 3rd electron which further reduces the net effective force on the outermost electron.
Hence it is easy to knock off the outermost electron in Lithium when compared to Helium.

Suggest Corrections

Similar questions

Q. Statement I: Lithium needs less energy to have an electron knocked off from its outermost orbit than does helium.

Statement II: Lithium has one electron in its outermost orbit which is loosely bound due to the repulsion of the inner orbit electrons.

Statement I: Lithium needs less energy to knock off an electron from its outermost orbit than Helium.
Statement II: Lithium has 1 electron in its outermost orbit which is loosely bound due to the repulsion of the inner orbit electrons and hence, less attraction from the nucleus.

Statement I: Lithium needs less energy to knock off an electron from its outermost orbit than Helium.
Statement II: Lithium has 1 electron in its outermost orbit which is loosely bonded to the nucleus, due to the repulsion of the electrons present in the inner orbit and located at a greater distance from the nucleus.

Statement 1: If an orbit has 8 electrons, then it will be the outermost orbit of that atom.
Statement 2: The outermost orbit of the atom cannot have less than 8 electrons.

Statement 1: Hydrogen just needs 2 electrons to fill its outermost orbit.

Statement 2: The first orbit can occupy only 2 electrons.

Join BYJU'S Learning Program