Which of the following give(s) the correct order of ionization energies?
a. Li > Na > K > Rb
b. Na > Mg > P > Cl
c. both a and b
d. neither a nor b
The correct answer is d. neither a nor b.
The order of ionization energies cannot be determined solely by the positions of the elements in the periodic table or their atomic numbers. Ionization energy is influenced by factors such as atomic radius, effective nuclear charge, and electron shielding, which can vary across different elements and can cause variations in the order of ionization energies. Therefore, we cannot determine the correct order of ionization energies from the information given in options a or b.