Answer to Question #31459 in Atomic and Nuclear Physics for DARE MIKE

Question

The second ionization energy of alkaline earth metals is less than that of corresponding alkali metals because

Answer 1

Although IE1 (first ionization energy) values of alkaline earth metals are higher than that of alkali metals, the IE2 (second ionization energy) values of alkaline earth metals are much smaller than those of alkali metals. This occurs because in alkali metals the second electron is to be removed from a cation, which has already acquired a noble gas configuration. In the case of alkaline earth metals the second electron is to be removed from a monovalent cation, which still has one electron in the outermost shell. Thus, the second electron can be removed more easily in the case of group 2 elements than in group 1 elements.