Removing 2nd e- [ENDORSED]

[akroberts]

Why is it harder to remove the second electron from an atom?

[Maya_Peterson1C]

If you remove an electron, you are creating a cation. This net positive charge creates a stronger electrostatic attraction that holds the electrons tighter to the nucleus, thus requiring more energy to separate.

[KatrinaPho_2I]

By removing an electron, there is now a larger ratio of protons to electrons meaning that the electrons that are left are more attracted to the positive nucleus. This attraction is harder to overcome, therefore it takes more energy to remove the next electrons.

[daniella_knight1I]

When you remove an election, the atom becomes more positive in the nucleus which means the electrons will be pulled down more since the charge is stronger.

[Luc Lorain 1L]

In certain cases, such as the alkali metals in Group 1A, this idea is very easily imagined. Since these metals all have only 1 valence electron in their ground state, it should be fairly easy (low energy requirement) to remove that one electron. However, after this electron is lost the atom is left with a electron structure identical to a noble gas, which are inert and very hard (high energy requirement) to ionize.