Explain why the first ionization energies generally increase across the period
sodium to argon (Na to Ar).
As you go across a period,
1. The charge on the nucleus increases, the number of protons in the nucleus increases, so the nucleus becomes more positively charged, so the electrons are attracted more strongly to the nucleus, so more energy would be required to remove an electron and hence the first ionization energy is greater.
2. Due to the increase in the nuclear charge and the stronger attraction, the electrons are closer to the nucleus and hence they are attracted more strongly than the ones further away, so more energy would be required to remove an electron and hence the first ionization energy is greater.