Chemical Forums

Chemistry Forums for Students => Undergraduate General Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: dolimitless on June 07, 2009, 05:59:48 AM

Title: How is ionization an endothermic reaction?
Post by: dolimitless on June 07, 2009, 05:59:48 AM

I don't get how ionization is an endothermic reaction.

In an endothermic Reactions: the reactants have less potential energy than do the products. Energy must be input in order to raise the particles up to the higher energy level.

The ionization energy, is the energy required to completely remove a valence electron from a gaseous atom or ion.

EX: Na(g) → Na+(g) + e- I1 = 496 kJ/mole

The reactant though, Na, has more potential energy (it is further away from the nucleus when compared to its ionic counterpart, which just lost an electron) than the product?

Am I thinking wrong? PlEASE *delete me*

Title: Re: How is ionization an endothermic reaction?
Post by: Think2Much4UserNames on June 08, 2009, 07:07:48 PM

Hi,
The following links below might help:
http://www.shodor.org/chemviz/ionization/students/background.html
http://facultyfp.salisbury.edu/dfrieck/htdocs/212/rev/table/ie.htm