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Nuclear Charge Increases.: (Do Not Mention Shielding Effect)

Across a period, ionization energies generally increase due to the increasing nuclear charge outweighing the negligible change in screening effect. Down a group, ionization energies generally decrease because the increasing distance of valence electrons from the nucleus as shells are added results in weaker attraction. Exceptions can occur when orbitals or electron configurations change in a way that increases screening or introduces repulsion. (191 words) Across a period, atomic radii decrease as increasing nuclear charge outweighs screening effects, strongly attracting electrons. Down a group, atomic radii increase as the addition of shells places valence electrons farther from the nucleus, weakening attraction. Cations have smaller radii than atoms due to reduced screening. Anions have larger radii than

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162 views

Nuclear Charge Increases.: (Do Not Mention Shielding Effect)

Across a period, ionization energies generally increase due to the increasing nuclear charge outweighing the negligible change in screening effect. Down a group, ionization energies generally decrease because the increasing distance of valence electrons from the nucleus as shells are added results in weaker attraction. Exceptions can occur when orbitals or electron configurations change in a way that increases screening or introduces repulsion. (191 words) Across a period, atomic radii decrease as increasing nuclear charge outweighs screening effects, strongly attracting electrons. Down a group, atomic radii increase as the addition of shells places valence electrons farther from the nucleus, weakening attraction. Cations have smaller radii than atoms due to reduced screening. Anions have larger radii than

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Trend of IE across the period

1. Across the period, ionization energies generally increase.


2. The number of protons increases across the period, hence nuclear charge increases.
3. Successive electrons are added to the same quantum shell, thus there is no change in the
number of inner shell electrons and the increase in screening effect is negligible.
4. Since the increase in nuclear charge outweighs the increase in screening effect, effective
nuclear charge increases.
5. Valence electrons are more strongly attached to the nucleus.
6. Hence, more energy is required to remove the valence electrons and ionisation energies
generally increase.

Trend of IE down the group


1. Across the group, ionization energies generally decrease.
2. The number of principal quantum shells increases down the group.
3. As the distance of the valence electrons from the positively charged nucleus increases,
the valence electrons are less strongly attached to the nucleus.
4. Hence, less energy is required to remove the valence electrons and ionisation energies
generally decrease.
[Do not mention shielding effect]

IE irregularities
Differing orbitals
1st IE of Al lower than that of Mg 1st IE of Be lower than that of B
2 2 6 2 2 2
12Mg: 1S 2S 2P 3S 4Be: 1S 2S
2 2 6 2 1 2 2 1
13Al : 1S 2S 2P 3S 3P 5B : 1S 2S 2P

1. In Mg(Be) the first electron is removed from the 3S(2S) orbital, where in Al(B), the first
electron is removed from the 3P(2P) orbital.
2. The 3P(2P) orbital is further from the nucleus and also experiences an additional
screening effect by the two 3S electrons. [despite being in the same principal quantum shell]
3. These factors outweigh the effect of increase in nuclear charge from Mg(Be) to Al(B),
resulting in a lower effective nuclear charge and less energy is required to remove an
electron from the 3P(2P) than the 3S(2S) orbital.

Similar orbitals
1st IE of Al lower than that of Mg 1st IE of Be lower than that of B
2 2 6 2 3 2 2 3
15P: 1S 2S 2P 3S 3P 7N: 1S 2S 2P
2 2 6 2 4 2 2 4
16S: 1S 2S 2P 3S 3P 8O: 1S 2S 2P

1. In S(N), the electrons in the doubly occupied 3P(2P) orbital repel one another and
experience inter-electronic repulsion.
2. This factor outweighs the effect of increase in nuclear charge from P(N) to S(O), resulting
in a lower effective nuclear charge and less energy is required to remove an electron from
the paired 3P(2P) electrons in S(O) compared to the unpaired 3P(2P) electrons in P(N).
Trend of atomic radius across the period
1. Across the period, atomic radii decrease.
2. The number of protons increases across the period, hence nuclear charge increases.
3. Successive electrons are added to the same quantum shell, so there is no change in the
number of inner shell electrons and the increase in screening effect is negligible.
4. Since the increase in nuclear charge outweighs the increase in screening effect, effective
nuclear charge increases.
5. Hence, the valence electrons are more strongly attracted to the nucleus and the atomic
size decreases.

Trend of atomic radius down the group


1. Down the group, atomic radii increase.
2. As the number of principal quantum shells increases down the group, distance of the
valence electrons from the positively charged nucleus increases.
3. Hence, valence electrons are less strongly attracted to the nucleus and the atomic size
increases.
[Do not mention shielding effect or ENC]

Comparing radii of different elements


Van der Walls radius half the distance between the nuclei of two non-bonded atoms.
Covalent radius half the inter-nuclear distance of two atoms with overlapping orbitals.
Metallic radius half the distance between two non-bonded/non-overlapping metal atoms.

Why noble gases do not have a covalent radius


1. Noble gases do not have a covalent radius as they exist as single atoms due to fully filled S
and P orbitals.
2. Thus they do not form covalent bonds with one another under standard conditions.

Cationic radii smaller than corresponding atomic radii


1. The radius of a cation is smaller than of its parent atom.
2. The number of protons in both the atom and cation are the same, hence nuclear charge
remains constant.
3. The cation has fewer electrons than its atom, furthermore, the cation contains one less
shell. Hence, its electrons experience lower screening effect.
4. Effective nuclear charge is higher.
5. Electrons are more strongly attached to the nucleus, resulting in a smaller cationic radius
when compared to atomic radius.

Anionic radii greater than corresponding atomic radii


1. The radii of an anion is larger than of its parent atom.
2. The number of protons in both the atom and cation are the same, hence nuclear charge
remains constant.
3. When an atom gains electrons to become its anion, the anion has more electrons and
hence experiences higher screening effect.
4. Effective nuclear charge is lower.
5. Electrons are less strongly attached to the nucleus, resulting in a larger anionic radius
when compared to atomic radius.
Anions are bigger(larger radii) than cations in the same period
1. Anions have one more quantum shell than the cations.
2. The additional quantum shell provides significant shielding from the nuclear charge.
3. The increase in shielding effect outweighs the increase in nuclear charge.
4. Hence, effective nuclear charge decreases.
5. Thus, the other electrons are less strongly attracted by the nucleus, resulting in a
bigger(larger) radius.

Anions are bigger(larger radii) than cations in the same period


1. Anions have one more quantum shell than the cations.
2. The additional quantum shell provides significant shielding from the nuclear charge.
3. The increase in shielding effect outweighs the increase in nuclear charge.
4. Hence, effective nuclear charge decreases.
5. Thus, the other electrons are less strongly attracted by the nucleus, resulting in a
bigger(larger) radius.

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