Which element has the higher ionization energy; boron or oxygen?

1 Answer
anor277
Sep 8, 2016

Well, which has higher atomic number? #B,# #Z=5#; #O,# #Z=8#

Explanation:

We interrogate the process:

#"Atom(g) + energy"# #rarr# #"Atom"^+(g) + "electron"#

Because oxygen has the higher atomic number, and is in the same Period, I am willing to bet that it has a higher first ionization energy.

See here.

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