Compare the boxed notation electron configurations of magnesium and aluminum?In general, the first ionization energy of an element increases going across the period?However, aluminum has a lower ionization energy than magnesium?Use complete sentences to explain why.
Well, to answer this you have to look at the different orbitalsNow, magnesium has a full s orbitalAluminum has 1 electron in the p orbitalTo remove the electron from aluminums p orbital, it takes less energyHowever, magnesium has a full orbital and will not want to lose an electron as much because it is more stableTherefore; that explains why magnesium has a higher first ionization energy.
