Question

Rank the elements in order of increasing ionization energy.

A) C < O < F < N
B) N < C < F < O
C) N < O < C < F
D) F < C < O < N

Answer 1

The elements can be ranked in order of increasing ionization energy as follows: N < C < F < O.

Step-by-step explanation:

The elements can be ranked in order of increasing ionization energy as follows:

1. B) N < C < F < O
2. Ionization energy generally increases as you move across a period from left to right. Nitrogen (N) has the lowest ionization energy among the given elements. Carbon (C), Fluorine (F), and Oxygen (O) have higher ionization energies.
3. Within a group or column, ionization energy generally decreases as you move down. However, there are exceptions such as when comparing elements in different periods. In this case, the higher atomic number indicates a higher ionization energy.