The elements argon, potassium, and calcium are consecutive in the periodic table. Which gives the correct order of increasing first ionization energies?

A.     \({\text{Ar}} < {\text{Ca}} < {\text{K}}\)

B.     \({\text{K}} < {\text{Ar}} < {\text{Ca}}\)

C.     \({\text{Ca}} < {\text{K}} < {\text{Ar}}\)

D.     \({\text{K}} < {\text{Ca}} < {\text{Ar}}\)

D

The most common wrong answer was C.