Chapter 8, Problem 8.147QP

Recent theoretical calculations suggest that astatine may be a monoatomic metal rather than a diatomic molecule like the other halogens. (a) Rationalize this prediction based on astatine’s position in the periodic table. (b) The energy required to remove an electron from one At atom was determined by laser ionization to be 9.3175 eV. Given that 1 eV = 1.602 × 10⁻¹⁹ J, calculate the first ionization energy of astatine in kJ/mol. (c) Comment on whether or not the following first ionization energies support your answer to part (a): Pb, 715.6 kJ/mol; Bi, 702.9 kJ/mol; Po, 811.8 kJ/mol; Rn, 1037 kJ/mol.