Which has a higher ionization energy: chlorine (Cl) or magnesium (Mg)? Why? Select the best answer.(1 point)

Question

Responses

A. Cl; it takes much more energy to pull an electron away from a valence shell that is nearly full.

B. Mg; magnesium has more valence electrons than chlorine.

C. Mg; it takes more energy to pull two electrons away from magnesium(Mg) than it does to take them from chlorine(Cl).

D. Cl; it takes less energy to add an electron to a valence shell that is nearly full.

Answer 1

The correct answer is:

A. Cl; it takes much more energy to pull an electron away from a valence shell that is nearly full.

Chlorine has a higher ionization energy compared to magnesium because it is closer to having a full valence shell (7 valence electrons) and requires significantly more energy to remove an electron, compared to magnesium, which has only 2 valence electrons and is further from having a full outer shell.