Reactions of Ionized Atoms

[npts2020]

I am having difficulty in finding information on how ionized atoms react chemically in comparison to non-ionized atoms of the same element. For instance, would an ionized noble gas then become more chemically reactive? Sorry if this sounds ignorant but my understanding of chemistry is rather limited.

[Sensei]

I am having difficulty in finding information on how ionized atoms react chemically in comparison to non-ionized atoms of the same element. For instance, would an ionized noble gas then become more chemically reactive? Sorry if this sounds ignorant but my understanding of chemistry is rather limited.

 

That depends on which noble gases you have in mind.

On Earth there are known to be existing compounds made of heavy noble gases such as Krypton and Xenon.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noble_gas_compound

 

IMHO it has more to do with quantum physics than chemistry..

[npts2020]

 

That depends on which noble gases you have in mind.

On Earth there are known to be existing compounds made of heavy noble gases such as Krypton and Xenon.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noble_gas_compound

 

IMHO it has more to do with quantum physics than chemistry..

Yes, I know about molecules that incorporate noble gases. Are Krypton and Xenon ionized before or after they form a compound? The article doesn't really talk about that.How does ionized hydrogen act chemically in comparison to non-ionized hydrogen? Is there any difference?

[Sensei]

Yes, I know about molecules that incorporate noble gases. Are Krypton and Xenon ionized before or after they form a compound? The article doesn't really talk about that.How does ionized hydrogen act chemically in comparison to non-ionized hydrogen? Is there any difference?

 

1) Hydrogen is not noble gas

2) Hydrogen is not mentioned in article I linked.

[npts2020]

Yes, I realize that. The noble gases was only an example. I am trying to find information on how ionization affects the chemistry of elements.

[hypervalent_iodine]

It depends on the element and what charge it has as the ionized species and I suppose how you are. I don't think there would really be any hard and fast rules, though there would some trends across the groups of the periodic table. Sodium metal for instance is very reactive as it is highly susceptible towards oxidation, having only one valence electron. A sodoum ion, however, is not very reactive. Similar case with potassium. Compare that to elemental nitrogen vs a nitrogen anion, which is different again to the corresponding cation. Elemental hydrogen reacts very differently to a H+, which is also different in reactivity to H-.

 

 

It would help if you could narrow your question. Why exactly do you need to know this?

[npts2020]

Thank you, Hypervalent. You have pretty much answered what I was trying to find out, it was only a question from a friend but since neither of us knows much about chemistry and googling didn't really show much it was unresolved. Do you know of any resources where I can read up about this? I thought that changing the charge would effect the chemistry but really couldn't say how.

[Enthalpy]

Ions in vacuum are rare on Earth, because they demand several eV energy to create, which makes them extremely reactive - more so than atoms or molecules. This case would be rather clear.

 

Though, ions can be created with little energy in a solvent, and this is how chemists usually understand "ion". Then, the comparison with neutral molecules isn't clear at all, since the solvent stabilizes an ion much.

[npts2020]

"this is how chemists usually understand "ion""

Yeah, Enthalpy, so usually, that it is the reason I couldn't find out what I was looking for. The question was in relation to chemical reactions in a reactor. I do appreciate the responses, you guys are the greatest.