Topic 12 Atomic Structure HL
Topic 12 Atomic Structure HL
IB CHEMISTRY HL
Understandings:
• Trends in first ionization energy across periods account for the existence of main
energy levels and sub-levels in atoms.
• Successive ionization energy data for an element give information that shows
relations to electron configurations.
• Calculation of the value of the first ionization energy from spectral data which
gives the wavelength or frequency of the convergence limit.
• Deduction of the group of an element from its successive ionisation energy data.
Guidance:
• The value of Planck’s constant (h) and 𝐸𝐸= ℎ𝑣𝑣 are given in the data booklet in
sections 1 and 2.
Syllabus checklist
H(g) → H+(g) + e-
E = hv c = λv
E is energy in Joules (J)
h is Planck’s constant (6.63 × 10-34 J·s)
v is the frequency in s-1 (or Hertz, Hz)
c is the speed of light (3.00 × 108 m s-1)
λ is the wavelength in m or nm (1 m = 1 × 109 nm)
Exercises: use the formulas and constants above to answer the following questions.
1. What is the frequency, in s-1, of a photon of light with an energy of 2.24 × 10-19 J?
3. A photon of light has a wavelength of 6.98 × 10-7 m. How much energy does it
have in J?
4. How much energy, in J, does a photon of light have if it has a wavelength of 5.26
× 10-7 m?
• Next, calculate the energy to remove one electron from one hydrogen atom:
𝐸𝐸=ℎ𝑣𝑣
E = 6.63 × 10-34 × 3.29 × 1015
E = 2.18 × 10-18 J
• Finally, calculate the energy to remove one mole of electrons from one mole of
hydrogen atom, in kJ mol-1
Example 2: Determine the wavelength of a photon that will cause the first ionisation of
helium. The ionisation energy of helium is 2372 kJ mol-1.
• First, calculate the energy to remove one electron from one helium atom:
2372000
𝐸𝐸 = = 3.94 × 10-18 J
6.02×1023
• Next, calculate the frequency of the photon:
𝐸𝐸=ℎ𝑣𝑣
3.94 × 10-18 = 6.63 × 10-34 ν
ν = 5.94 × 1015 s-1
• Finally convert from frequency to wavelength:
c = λ𝜈𝜈
3.00 × 108 = 5.94 × 1015 λ
3.00×108
λ= = 5.05 × 10-8 m
5.94×1015
3. What has occurred when the electron is said to be in the n=∞ energy level?
4. The convergence limit for the sodium atom has a wavelength of 2.42 × 10-7 m.
Calculate the first ionization energy of sodium from this data.
The two equations you need are c = λ𝜈𝜈 and E = h𝜈𝜈
Planck’s constant = 6.63 × 10-34 J s
c = 3.00 × 108 m s-1
5. Calculate the frequency of a photon that will cause the first ionisation of copper.
1. These outer electrons are removed from the energy level furthest from the
nucleus (n = 3), therefore, they require the less energy to remove (weaker
electrostatic attraction from the nucleus and shielding by inner electrons).
2. These electrons are removed from the second main energy level (n = 2). Notice
the jump between the 3rd and 4th ionisation energies. This is evidence of the
existence of energy levels within the atom and tells us that aluminium is located in
group 13 of the periodic table (because it has 3 valence electrons).
3. These electrons are being removed from the energy level closest to the nucleus (n
= 1). These electrons require the most energy to remove because of the strong
electrostatic attraction from the nucleus and the lack of shielding from the positive
nucleus.
2. From the graph of successive ionisation energies below, explain to which group of
the periodic table the elements belong.
3. The graph below shows the first ten ionisation energies of an element. To which
group does the element belong?
5. Sketch a graph to show the relative values of the successive ionisation energies
of boron.
N to O and P to S
Exercises:
1. Explain the reason for the decrease in ionisation energy between Mg and Al.
2. Explain the reason for the decrease in ionisation energy between P and S.