Which of the following is true concerning successive ionizations of an atom and its ions?

• A. Each successive ionization energy is higher than the previous one.
• B. Successive ionization energies decrease as more electrons are removed.
• C. All ionization energies of an atom are equal.
• D. The second ionization energy is always lower than the first ionization energy.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of ionization energy: it is the energy required to remove an electron from an atom or ion in the gaseous state.
2. Recognize that successive ionization energies refer to the energies needed to remove electrons one after another from the same atom or ion.
3. Recall that after removing one electron, the resulting ion has a higher positive charge, which increases the attraction between the nucleus and the remaining electrons.
4. Because of this increased attraction, it requires more energy to remove the next electron, so each successive ionization energy is higher than the previous one.
5. Therefore, the correct statement is that each successive ionization energy is higher than the previous one, while the other options contradict this fundamental principle.