Chemistry: The Molecular Science (5th Edition)

Published by Cengage Learning
ISBN 10: 1285199049
ISBN 13: 978-1-28519-904-7

Chapter 5 - Electron Configurations and the Periodic Table - Questions for Review and Thought - Applying Concepts - Page 240f: 128e

Answer

Its noble gas configuration.

Work Step by Step

Once Lithium loses one electron, it has a noble gas electron configuration. Since this configuration is extremely stable, it is hard to remove an electron once it is obtained. Thus, the second ionization energy is much higher than the first.
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