What is the Ionization Energy of Gold?

Ionization energy is the energy required to remove an electron from an atom or ion. The ionization energy of gold is 890.1 kJ/mol. This means that it takes 890.1 kilojoules of energy to remove an electron from a gold atom.

The ionization energy of an element is a measure of its electronegativity. Electronegativity is a measure of an element’s ability to attract electrons. The higher the ionization energy, the more electronegative the element.

Gold is a relatively electronegative element. This means that it has a strong ability to attract electrons. This is why gold is often used in jewelry and other applications where it is important to have a material that is resistant to corrosion.

Factors Affecting Ionization Energy

The ionization energy of an element is affected by a number of factors, including:

Atomic number: The atomic number of an element is the number of protons in its nucleus. The more protons an element has, the more positively charged its nucleus is. This makes it more difficult to remove an electron from the element, and therefore increases its ionization energy.
Atomic radius: The atomic radius of an element is the distance from its nucleus to its outermost electron shell. The larger the atomic radius, the more loosely bound the outermost electrons are. This makes it easier to remove an electron from the element, and therefore decreases its ionization energy.
Electron configuration: The electron configuration of an element is the arrangement of its electrons in its atomic orbitals. The more stable the electron configuration, the more difficult it is to remove an electron from the element. This is because removing an electron from a stable configuration would require adding energy to the system.

Ionization Energy of Gold

The ionization energy of gold is 890.1 kJ/mol. This value is relatively high, which indicates that gold is a relatively electronegative element. This is consistent with gold’s other properties, such as its resistance to corrosion and its use in jewelry.

Applications of Ionization Energy

The ionization energy of an element can be used to understand a variety of chemical and physical properties. For example, ionization energy can be used to: