Question Detail
Question
Which orbital configuration leads to a relatively higher ionization energy?
Correct Answer
Option B is the correct answer.
Detailed Explanation
The 2p³ configuration represents a half-filled p-subshell (like in nitrogen). Half-filled and fully filled subshells have extra stability, which makes removing an electron more difficult and thus leads to a relatively higher ionization energy compared to neighboring configurations.
Hint
Look for a configuration that represents a particularly stable electron arrangement.