Chemical Forums
Chemistry Forums for Students => High School Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: XxslbabesxX on November 08, 2005, 09:28:08 PM
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Can someone explain to me why Sulfur has a lower first ionization energy than Phosphorus?
Also do group differences make more of a difference than does period differences when it comes to things like electron affinity and ionization energy.
Thanks!
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It could be due the their electron affinity.
Electron Affinity of P is 71.7 kJ/mol
Electron Affinity of S is 200.4 kJ/mol
Therefore P has less ability or want to hold onto electrons, therefore the electrons are more easily removed and the energy potential is therefore greater.
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Your numbers seem to indicate the opposite. One should note that electron affinity = -(delta h)