MCQ
Which of the following has the highest second ionization energy?
Chemistry
A Na
B Mg
C Al
D Si
Explanation

Mg+ has configuration [Ne]3s1. Removing the second electron from the stable 3s1 is very difficult. Na+ already has a noble gas config [Ne], making its second IE very high too, but Mg2+ removing from [Ne]3s1 to [Ne] is harder than Na+ removing from [Ne] to [He]2s2 2p5.