National Institute of Standards and Technology

Computational Chemistry Comparison and Benchmark DataBase
Release
NIST Standard Reference Database 101

I	Introduction
II	Experimental data
III	Calculated data
IV	Data comparisons
V	Cost comparisons
VI	Input and output files
VII	Tutorials and Units
VIII	Links to other sites
IX	Feedback
X	Older CCCBDB versions
XII	Geometries
XIII	Vibrations
XIV	Reaction data
XV	Entropy data
XVI	Bibliographic data
XVII	Ion data
XVIII	Bad calculations
XIX	Index of properties
XX	H-bond dimers
XXI	Oddities

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VII.C.4.

Notes on Ionization Energies

The difference between a vertical ionzation energy and adiabatic ionzation energy

The geometry of an ion may be different from the neutral molecule. The measured ionzation energy can refer to the vertical ionization energy, in which case the ion is in the same geometry as the neutral, or to the adiabatic ionzaiton energy, in which case the ion is in its lowest energy, relaxed geometry. This is illustrated in the figure. For a diatomic the only geometry change possible is the bond length. The figure shows an ion with a slightly longer bond length than the neutral. The harmonic potential energy surfaces are shown in green (neutral) and red (ion) with vibrational energy levels. The vertical ionzation energy is always greater than the adiabatic ionzation energy.