Answer :
Final answer:
The energy required to remove both electrons from a neutral helium atom is the sum of the first and second ionization energies, which is 24.59 eV + 54.42 eV, amounting to a total of (D) 79.0 eV.
Explanation:
The energy required to remove one of the electrons from a neutral helium atom is 24.6 electron volts (eV). However, removing both electrons from the helium atom requires a larger amount of energy due to the increased net charge of the helium ion that would result after the first electron is removed. This makes it more difficult to remove the second electron.
The first ionization energy I₁, the minimum energy required to remove the first electron from helium, is experimentally 24.59 eV. The energy required to remove the second electron (second ionization energy I₂) is 54.42 eV. Adding these two quantities together gives us the total energy required to remove both electrons from a neutral helium atom, which is 24.59 eV + 54.42 eV = 79.01 eV. Therefore, the correct answer is 79.0 eV.