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The ionization potentials of hydrogenic ions A and B are V_A and V_B respectively. Now if V_B>V_A, then

Asked in GSEB Board July 2016 · Energy levels and ionisation

Answer: (1) r_A>r_B

Step-by-step solution

Given: two hydrogen-like ions with V_B>V_A. Ionisation is from the ground state, so r means the ground-state orbit radius.

Idea: for a one-electron ion of atomic number Z, Bohr's model gives V=13.6 Z² V and r=(a₀)/Z in the ground state.

A larger ionisation potential means a larger Z: V_B>V_A gives Z_B>Z_A.

A larger Z means a smaller orbit, so r_B<r_A.

Put together, V∝1/(r²): the ion with the higher ionisation potential has the smaller radius.

Therefore r_A>r_B.

Why the other options are wrong

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