Question

Can anyone tell me exactly what happens during a chemical reaction in terms of ionisation energy? I know that during a reaction there is an exchange of electrons (except for those where electrons are shared), more specifically the valence electrons. But where exactly does the ionisation energy come from? Does it come from the charge of the other atom or...?

I'm asking this because I'm being asked to describe the reaction of sodium and water in terms of valance electrons and ionisation energy - and I just can't seem to understand where the ionisation energy comes from for there to be a reaction. I tried putting the same question as above to some AI chatbots and they seemed to suggest that the ionisation energy comes from the positive charge of the water attracting the single valance electron of the sodium. But water is neutral, so that can't really be the case, can it?

Answer 1

Ionization energy is the required energy to remove an electron from an atom, forming a cation. Sodium has low ionization energy, allowing it to lose its valence electron easily in the presence of water, forming a sodium ion. Water facilitates this process, resulting in the formation of sodium hydroxide.

Step-by-step explanation:

During a chemical reaction, ionization energy is the energy required to remove an electron from an atom to form a cation. In the case of sodium reacting with water, energy must be supplied for sodium to lose its valence electron.

Ionization energy comes into play when sodium (Na), with one electron in its outer shell, interacts with water. Na has a low ionization energy, meaning it requires less energy to remove its outer electron.

When sodium comes into contact with water, it loses its valence electron readily, becoming a sodium ion (Na+). This electron loss happens because it's energetically favorable for sodium to attain a stable electron configuration.

In this reaction, the supplied energy (such as heat) and the surrounding environment (like water) provide necessary conditions for such electron transfer, and the water molecule, through its polar nature, facilitates the ionization of sodium, despite being neutral overall.

Consequently, the sodium ion and the hydroxide ions (from water) combine to form sodium hydroxide. Ions are formed when atoms of elements either lose or gain electrons during a chemical reaction, leading to the formation of positively or negatively charged ions depending on the loss or gain of electrons, respectively.