Ionization Energy

[Frederick Keith_4C]

Why is ionization energy always positive????? And I understand that the second ionization energy is always larger than the first, but that can be said for every other electron removed thereafter. So my other question is how many ionization energies are typically calculated or found for each element before the values start getting ridiculous?

[philipraj_1F]

It is because you always need energy to remove an electron

[Bryce Barbee]

Ionization energy is always positive because it requires energy in the system to remove the electron. If it was negative, that means that it is loosing energy.

[Nuoya Jiang]

A positive sign means taking energy into the system or the system needs energy to so some certain activity. The negative sign means the system releases energy or loses energy during activity.

[kendal mccarthy]

It is positive because ionization energy is the amount of energy required to remove an electron, which requires an input of energy. And it depends on the number of electrons and the number of subshells filled generally when dealing with ionization energies.

[Jessa Maheras 4F]

Ionization energy should increase for each subsequent electron removed from the system - I believe this is due to the greater force between remaining electrons and the positively charged nucleus. How much the difference in in ionization energy between each electron removed is probably outside the scope of this course.

[Sadhana_Dicussion_4A]

Ionization energy is always positive because it requires energy to remove electrons (endothermic). The negatively charged electrons are attracted to the positively charged nucleus so it requires extra energy to remove the electrons.

[Martina]

Ionization energy is always positive because you need energy to remove the electron. Second ionization energy is higher because the charge difference between the positive nucleus and the electrons is greater, so it is even more difficult to remove another electron.

[Amanda Ung 4D]

Ionization energy is always positive because you have to add energy to remove an electron (an endothermic process).

[Charysa Santos 4G]

Just think of it as having to insert energy (+) in order to take out the electron because the electron is being held to the atom by the positive charge of the nucleus.