Question

How does ionization energy relate to reactivity?

Answer 1

Hint: Reactivity simply means the capability of an atom to form an ion and react without the input of energy or with the input of a small amount of energy. Ionization energy is simply the energy we need to give an atom so the atom can form an ion. If an atom requires a small amount of energy we can provide it easily and the atom can react fast.

Complete answer:Ionization energy is defined as the energy required for the removal of an electron from the outermost shell of an isolated gaseous atom. It is also known as ionization potential.Reactivity of an element is defined as its activity or capacity to part in a reaction and form molecules. The atoms form ions than ions combine to form molecules. An atom loses electrons to form a cation and another atom gains electrons to form an anion. As easy and as fast an atom forms an ion and reacts with another ion, as high it has reactivity.The reactivity of a cation depends upon the ease of removal of an electron from an atom. As electrons are present in nucleus attraction so, we require some input of energy to remove an electron from the outermost shell and this is known as ionization energy.The ease of removal of an electron depends upon the size and effective nuclear charge of an atom. An atom having a large size will have a large distance between the nucleus and outermost shell. So, the outermost electron will be loosely bound. We require a small amount of energy to remove the electron and practically it is easy and possible to provide a low amount of energy.So, low ionization energy means an atom loses electrons even at low temperature and form cation and reacts with an anion to give a molecule mans the atom has high reactivity.

Therefore, ionization energy is inversely proportional to the reactivity. Low ionization energy means higher activity. High ionization energy means low reactivity.

Note:On-going left to right in a period, the electrons are added in the same shell and the proton number also increases, so the attraction of the nucleus on the outermost shell increases. So, the size of the atom decreases. On-going left to right in a period, the ionization energy increases and reactivity decreases.On-going down in a group, the electrons get added in the next higher shell, so the attraction of the nucleus on the outermost shell decreases so, the size of the atom increases. On-going down in a group, the ionization energy decreases, and reactivity increases.