Question

The ionization energy of nitrogen is more than that of oxygen because

• A. Nitrogen has half filled p-orbitals
• B. Nitrogen is left to the oxygen in the same period of the periodic table
• C. Nitrogen contains less number of electrons
• D. Nitrogen is less electronegative

Answer 1

The correct option is A

Nitrogen has half filled p-orbitals

The first ionization energy is the energy needed to remove the outermost, or highest energy, electron from a neutral atom in the gas phase. It is more for nitrogen than oxygen because nitrogen is more stable due to its half-filled electronic configuration.