HESI A2 Chemistry Related

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What is the energy required to remove the outermost electron from an atom called?

  • A. covalent bonding
  • B. electronegativity
  • C. atomic radius
  • D. ionization energy
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Ionization energy is the energy needed to remove the outermost electron from an atom, resulting in the formation of a positively charged ion. The higher the ionization energy, the more difficult it is to extract an electron. Electronegativity, however, measures an atom's ability to attract shared electrons in a chemical bond. Atomic radius refers to the distance from the nucleus to the outermost electron. Covalent bonding involves sharing electron pairs between atoms to create a stable bond. Therefore, the correct answer is ionization energy as it specifically relates to the energy needed to remove an electron from an atom.