Which has a higher ionization energy: chlorine (Cl) or magnesium (Mg)? Why? Select the best answer.(1 point)
Responses
Mg; it takes more energy to pull two electrons away from magnesium(Mg) than it does to take them from chlorine(Cl).
Mg; it takes more energy to pull two electrons away from magnesium(Mg) than it does to take them from chlorine(Cl).
Mg; magnesium has more valence electrons than chlorine.
Mg; magnesium has more valence electrons than chlorine.
Cl; it takes much more energy to pull an electron away from a valence shell that is nearly full.
Cl; it takes much more energy to pull an electron away from a valence shell that is nearly full.
Cl; it takes less energy to add an electron to a valence shell that is nearly full.
Cl; it takes much more energy to pull an electron away from a valence shell that is nearly full.
Ionization energy is the energy required to remove an electron from a gaseous atom or ion. The first ionization energy refers to the energy needed to remove the first electron from an atom. Chlorine (Cl), being a non-metal with a high effective nuclear charge and a nearly complete valence shell (7 valence electrons), tends to hold onto its valence electrons more tightly. As such, it requires more energy to remove one electron from chlorine to form a cation compared to magnesium (Mg), which is a metal with fewer valence electrons (2 valence electrons) in a larger orbit.
Therefore, chlorine has a higher first ionization energy than magnesium because an electron is being removed from a valence shell that is only one electron shy of being full, which is a more stable and energetically favorable state. This makes chlorine less willing to lose an electron and thus requires more energy to ionize.