Which ionization process requires the most energy?

a. p(g) → p+ (g) + e-

b. p+ (g) → p2+(g) + e-

c. p2+(g) → p3+(g) + e-

d. p3+(g) → p4+(g) + e?

An ionization process involves stripping an electron from an atom - multiple processes involve multiple electrons. The amount of energy required to strip an electron depends on the element and its electronegativity; in essence, atoms that don’t need the extra electron (sodium, for example) give it up for little energy, while atoms that want the electron require a massive amount of energy to take it away (chlorine, for example).

In this case, the energy trend follows so that successive ionizations become more and more energetic regardless of the atom itself, meaning that D is the correct answer for this question.

Hope this helps!

explanation:

two years ago, when picking flowers in the mountains back of yosemite valley, i found a book. it was blotted and storm-beaten; all of its outer pages were mealy and crumbly. the paper seemed to dissolve like the snow beneath which it had been buried, however; many of the inner pages were well preserved. and although all were more or less stained and torn, whole chapters were easily readable. this is the condition of the great open book of yosemite glaciers today; its granite pages have been torn and blurred by the same storms that wasted the castaway book.

two years ago, when picking flowers in the mountains back of yosemite valley; i found a book. it was blotted and storm-beaten, all of its outer pages were mealy and crumbly. the paper seemed to dissolve like the snow beneath which it had been buried, however, many of the inner pages were well preserved. and although all were more or less stained and torn; whole chapters were easily readable. this is the condition of the great open book of yosemite glaciers today, its granite pages have been torn and blurred by the same storms that wasted the castaway book.