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Write a chemical equation representing the first ionization energy for lithium while using e as a symbol for electron.

User Achille
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1 Answer

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It's likely what's wanted is
Li→Li2++2e−

The reason is because IEs are usually reported from the neutral atom, that is, IE2 is the energy required to remove two electrons from a neutral Li atom, as above, rather than the additional energy required to remove one more electron from an Li+ cation.
User LuVu
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