Question

read: electrons have a lot of energy and are in constant motion. however, they remain a part of the atom due to the attractive pull of the electromagnetic force between the nucleus and the electron cloud. it takes energy to remove an electron from a neutral atom. ionization energy is the amount of energy required to remove one electron from a neutral atom of an element. when an atom is no longer neutral it has a charge and is referred to as an ion. when an atom loses electrons, it has a positive charge and is referred to as a cation. when an atom gains electrons, it has a negative charge and is referred to as an anion. the ionization energy of an atom changes depending on if it is the first electron removed, the second, the third, and so on.

1. define ionization energy.

1. if an atom has a high ionization energy, what does that tell us about the atom and its stability?

1. if an atom has a low ionization energy, what does that tell us about the atom and its stability?

Explanation:

1. The definition is directly stated in the provided text.
2. High ionization energy means strong electron-nucleus attraction; stable atoms resist electron loss.
3. Low ionization energy means weak electron-nucleus attraction; unstable atoms lose electrons easily.

Answer:

1. The amount of energy required to remove one electron from a neutral atom of an element.
2. The atom has a strong attraction between its nucleus and electrons, so it is stable (resists losing electrons).
3. The atom has a weak attraction between its nucleus and electrons, so it is unstable (tends to lose electrons easily).