[inspiration100]

Hey Guys.  I'm working on a general chemistry lab and in the conclusion of the lab we are asked if there is a relationship between activity of a metal and ionization energy...  I've layed it all out from most active metals and their Ionization energies but they just don't seem to have any relationship.  For example, Potassium has an Ionization energy (level 1) of 4.341, Zinc has a ionization level of 9.394, and Copper has an ionization level of 7.726.  These are all over the place!   So I'm looking for some helpful hints or suggestions on what to look for.  I'm pretty lost here so any help is much appreciated.

Thanks!

[Alpha-Omega]

This may help you:

1) This is a nice site...click on the species in the periodic table and it gives you alot of 411. Then on the left here is a menu explining many properties of the elemnt you are looking at.

That includes a table of ionization energies: 

http://www.webelements.com/

This site specifically talks about activities of metal and trend and predictions based on activity: 

http://chemed.chem.purdue.edu/genchem/topicreview/bp/ch9/activity.php

[enahs]

You calculated/found the "first Ionization Energy" for all three elements; I.E. removing the first electron.
But in your activity series for Zinc and Copper, is this series for only one electron removed?

Get appropriate "ionization energies" for the appropriate species, and then see if there is a trend.

[inspiration100]

Thanks both, that is helpful.  Enahs, are you suggesting such that I look at Iron under ionization energy of level 2 since it's charge?  And I look at Silver under 3 because of it's charge etc?  Sorry, I probably am not making sense but I'm still trying to figure this out.   

[enahs]

Yes.

[inspiration100]

Still not seeing a trend though  .

Lithium +1 = 5.392 eV
Potassium +1 = 4.341 eV
Sodium +1 = 5.139 eV
Magnesium +2 = 15.035 eV
Aluminum +3 = 28.447 eV
Zinc +2 = 17.964 eV
Iron +2 = 16.18 eV
Lead +2 or +4 = 15.032 eV
Copper +2 = 20.292  eV
I must be missing something, cause this still seems rather random.

[enahs]

Activity Series:
Reacts water
K>Na>Li
Ionization energy
Li>Na>K

There seems to be an obvious patterns their. And we can easily see how those elements are grouped.

I apologize, I forgot some stuff and forgot that the other trends are not so obvious to see. There is a pattern, but other factors are very important.