Chemistry

Question Analysis
This question involves another key exception to the periodic trend of ionization energy across Period 2. The main focus is on explaining why Be has a higher IE than B despite the general left-to-right increase.

Key Concept Explanation
Be has an electron configuration of [He] 2s² (full 2s sublevel), while B has [He] 2s²2p¹. The 2s sublevel is lower in energy and closer to the nucleus than the 2p sublevel. Removing a 2p electron from B is easier than removing a 2s electron from Be, leading to a higher IE for Be.

Step-by-Step Solution
1. Recall the Period 2 IE exception: Be > B (deviation from the general increasing trend).
2. For the first blank, the correct comparative term is higher.
3. For the second bl...