The energy required to remove 1 mole of electrons from 1 mole of gaseous atoms to produce 1 mole of gaseous ions with 1+ charge.
X (g) --> X+ (g) + e-
Decreases down a group - b/c atoms get larger, electrons move further from the nucleus so pull from nucleus is not as strong, it takes less energy to remove electron.
Increases across period from left to right - atoms get smaller, nucleus has a strong hold on electrons, it takes more energy to remove it.