Which metal is easier to ionize, lithium or strontium?

1 Answer
anor277
Aug 3, 2017

As a scientist you need to look at the numbers, i.e. consider the ionization energies........

Explanation:

And these are listed for most metals........

Li(g) + Delta rarrLi^(+)(g) + e^(-) ;DeltaH^@=520.2*kJ*mol^-1

Sr(g) + Delta rarrSr^(+)(g) + e^(-) ;DeltaH^@=549.5*kJ*mol^-1

I got the numbers from my inorganic text......

So on this basis, energetically, it is easier to form Li^+. Of course, ionization energy DECREASES down a Group (i.e. the distance of the valence electron from the nucleus increases), but INCREASES across a Period (Z, "the atomic number", becomes larger). And so in this instance, we compare apples and oranges.

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