is the ionization energy of zinc higher?
” He also asked: “Like atomic radius and ionization energy, does ionic radius (for some particular charge, say 2+) follow the same pattern as atomic radius?” The statement in the transition elements part of that syllabus said: “Candidates should be able to: . . . state that the atomic radii, ionic radii and first ionisation energies of the transition elements are relatively invariant”. What this means is that the atomic and ionic radii and first ionisation energies don’t change much across a transition series. Notice that it also says “state” and not “explain”. Anyway, this particular student had looked in some detail at the data – often a dangerous thing to do at this level in chemistry! He was trying to tie together the explanations for the trends in atomic radii and ionisation energy as you go across the first transition series from scandium to zinc. Before you read on, it will save me having to repeat stuff from elsewhere on the site if you first read the bits about transition meta
