Question

What is Potassium ionization energy?

Answer 1

1. Ionization energy is defined as the energy which is required to remove the loosely bound electron from the valence shell of the atom.
2. More is the nuclear charge, greater is the attractive force, and therefore more tightly the electrons are bonded.
3. As we move down the group the ionization energy decreases. While moving from left to right in the period the ionization energy increases.
4. In the case of Potassium, the atomic number is 19 and the electronic configuration is 2, 8, 8, 1.
5. The first ionization energy of Potassium is not that much high compared with the second ionization energy.
6. This is because it is easy to remove one electron from the valence shell, as the force of attraction is low and therefore the minimum amount of energy is given to take out the electron from the Potassium atom.
7. The first ionization energy is 419 kJ/mol.
8. The second ionization energy is higher because now there is no such requirement of loss or gains of electrons and the atom attains the noble gas configuration.
9. Now, it is difficult to remove the electron as the nuclear force of attraction is high enough to not lose the electrons.