Question

Do metals have low ionization energies?

Answer 1

In general, they do...

Explanation:

Metals are typically REDUCING materials, and the data reflect this. And metals come from the left hand side of the Periodic Table as we face it...with LARGER atomic radii, so that the nuclear charge, i.e. `Z`, is not so effective at retaining the valence electrons. And as to a metric that illustrates we can examine ionization energies...i.e. the enthalpy for the reaction...

`M(g) + Delta rarr M^(+)(g) + e^(-)`

And so metals, TEND to have LOW ionization enthalpies in comparison to the non-metals of the same Period....