The first ionization energy of sodium is 496 kJ/mol. The second ionization energy of sodium is 4562 kJ/mol. Which characteristic of sodium does this data explain?

sodium atoms form cations instead of anions

sodium ions have unbalanced charges

sodium atoms form ions with 1- charges

sodium atoms hardly ever form 2+ ions

Question

The first ionization energy of sodium is 496 kJ/mol. The second ionization energy of sodium is 4562 kJ/mol. Which characteristic of sodium does this data explain?
 
		
sodium atoms form cations instead of anions
 		
sodium ions have unbalanced charges
 		
sodium atoms form ions with 1- charges
 		
sodium atoms hardly ever form 2+ ions

anonymous · Answer

sodium atoms hardly ever form 2+ ions
Because when sodium losses his first electron it completes the octette, and its very hard to remove an extra electron. you can see that on the ionization energies.