Question

Why is it harder to remove an electron from fluorine than from carbon, or put it another way, why are the valence electrons of fluorine more strongly bound?

a) Fluorine has a higher atomic number
b) Fluorine has a smaller atomic radius
c) Carbon has more protons
d) Carbon has a higher electronegativity

Answer 1

It is harder to remove an electron from fluorine than from carbon due to fluorine's higher electronegativity and its smaller atomic radius, leading to a stronger attraction between the nucleus and the valence electrons. Therefore, the correct option is B.

Step-by-step explanation:

It is harder to remove an electron from fluorine than from carbon primarily because of fluorine's higher electronegativity and its smaller atomic radius. Flourine's high electronegativity, being the highest among all elements at 4.0, indicates a strong tendency to attract electrons. Additionally, the atomic radius of fluorine is smaller than that of carbon, causing the valence electrons to be closer to the nucleus and experience a stronger electrostatic pull from the protons in the nucleus.

Fluorine's atomic structure also contributes to its high ionization energy. The valence electrons are located in the second energy level (n=2 shell), which is relatively small, leading to large electron-electron repulsions. This, compounded with the strong attraction of the nucleus, makes it energetically unfavorable to remove an electron. In comparison, removing an electron from a carbon atom, which has a lower electronegativity and a slightly larger atomic radius, is easier because the valence electrons are less strongly bound.