Ionizarion is not limited to the removal of a single electron from an atom. Two, three, or even more electrons can be removed sequentially from an atom, and the amount of enegry associated with each step can be measured. Successively, larger amount of energy is required for each successive ionization step because

Options

A. it is much harder to remove a negatively charged electron from a positively charged ion than from a neutral atom.
B. the nuclear charge increases after the removel of an electron.
C. atoms are smaller than cations.
D. none of these.

Answer

A

Explanation

Due to electrostatic attraction, the removal of an electron from positively charged ion is difficult.