medium · MCAT chem-phys

In the periodic table, why does oxygen have a lower first ionization energy than nitrogen, despite oxygen being further to the right in the same period?

  1. Oxygen's valence electrons are better shielded from the nucleus by inner-shell electrons.
  2. Oxygen has a larger atomic radius, making its valence electrons easier to remove.
  3. The effective nuclear charge is lower for oxygen than it is for nitrogen.
  4. Nitrogen has a half-filled p subshell, which provides extra stability.

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