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Successive Ionization Energies and the Core-Electron Jump

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Each successive ionization energy is larger than the last, with a sharp jump once removal reaches a core electron rather than valence.

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Sodium's second ionization energy far exceeds its first, since the first removes its valence electron, the second a core electron.

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A large jump between successive ionization energies marks the boundary between valence and core, not a quirk.