Question

The electronic configuration for sodium is 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s1, and the electronic configuration for potassium is 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s1. It requires 5.1 eV to remove the outermost electron (3s1) from sodium. What can you say about the energy required to remove the outermost electron from potassium (4s1)?

Since each is the outermost electron around the atom, the energy required will be equal to 5.1 eV.

Since each electron is in an s orbital, the energy required will be equal to 5.1 eV.

Since the outermost electron around sodium is in the 3s state, and the outermost electron around potassium is in the 4s state, the energy required will be greater than 5.1 eV.

Since the outermost electron around sodium is in the 3s state, and the outermost electron around potassium is in the 4s state, the energy required will be less than 5.1 eV.

none of the above

Answer 1

Ans : The energy required to remove the outermost electron from potassium (4s¹) will be less than 5.1 eV because of following reason :

Since the outermost electron around sodium is in the 3s state, and the outermost electron around potassium is in the 4s state, the energy required will be less than 5.1 eV. Hence the third option is correct one.