Tendency to Lose Electrons

Ionization energy measures how difficult it is for atoms to lose electrons but quite often we will want to talk about how easy it is for atoms to lose electrons. A low ionization energy means that it is easy for an atom to lose electrons. A high ionization energy means that it is hard for an atom to lose electrons.

Using this terminology, it gets harder for atoms to lose electrons as you go across the periodic table and it gets easier for atoms to lose electrons as you go down the periodic table.

Ability to Lose Electrons
     
         

H

a

r

d
               
                                  

E

a

s

y