Question
Nitrogen and phosphorus have high value of ionisation enthalpies. Explain.
Solution
The electronic configurations of N (Z = 7) and P(Z = 15) are:
Both these elements have the configurations in which all the orbitals of the same sub-level are exactly half-filled. Such an arrangement gives extra stability to the atom. As a result, the removal of electron becomes difficult and hence they have high value of ionisation enthalpies.
Both these elements have the configurations in which all the orbitals of the same sub-level are exactly half-filled. Such an arrangement gives extra stability to the atom. As a result, the removal of electron becomes difficult and hence they have high value of ionisation enthalpies.
