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Ch.7 - Quantum-Mechanical Model of the Atom
Chapter 7, Problem 78

An X-ray photon of wavelength 0.989 nm strikes a surface. The emitted electron has a kinetic energy of 969 eV. What is the binding energy of the electron in kJ/mol? [KE = 1/2 mv2; 1 electron volt (eV) = 1.602×10–19 J]

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Photoelectric Effect

The photoelectric effect describes the phenomenon where electrons are emitted from a material when it absorbs light or electromagnetic radiation, such as X-rays. The energy of the incoming photon must exceed the binding energy of the electrons in the material for them to be released. The kinetic energy of the emitted electrons can be calculated by subtracting the binding energy from the energy of the incoming photon.
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Photoelectric Effect

Energy of a Photon

The energy of a photon is inversely related to its wavelength and can be calculated using the equation E = hc/λ, where E is energy, h is Planck's constant, c is the speed of light, and λ is the wavelength. In this question, the wavelength of the X-ray photon is given, allowing us to determine its energy, which is crucial for calculating the binding energy of the emitted electron.
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Conversion of Energy Units

In this problem, it is necessary to convert energy units from electron volts (eV) to kilojoules per mole (kJ/mol). The conversion factor is 1 eV = 1.602 x 10^-19 J, and to convert joules to kilojoules, one divides by 1000. Additionally, to convert from energy per particle to energy per mole, Avogadro's number (6.022 x 10^23 mol^-1) is used, which is essential for expressing the binding energy in the desired units.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

An argon ion laser puts out 5.0 W of continuous power at a wavelength of 532 nm. The diameter of the laser beam is 5.5 mm. If the laser is pointed toward a pinhole with a diameter of 1.2 mm, how many photons travel through the pinhole per second? Assume that the light intensity is equally distributed throughout the entire cross-sectional area of the beam. (1 W = 1 J/s)

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Open Question
A green leaf has a surface area of 2.50 cm². If solar radiation is 1000 W/m², how many photons strike the leaf every second? Assume three significant figures and an average wavelength of 504 nm for solar radiation.
Open Question
In a technique used for surface analysis called Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), electrons are accelerated toward a metal surface. These electrons cause the emissions of secondary electrons—called Auger electrons—from the metal surface. The kinetic energy of the Auger electrons depends on the composition of the surface. The presence of oxygen atoms on the surface results in Auger electrons with a kinetic energy of approximately 506 eV. What is the de Broglie wavelength of one of these electrons? [KE = 1/2mv^2; 1 electron volt (eV) = 1.602 * 10^(-19) J]
Textbook Question

Ionization involves completely removing an electron from an atom. How much energy is required to ionize a hydrogen atom in its ground (or lowest energy) state? What wavelength of light contains enough energy in a single photon to ionize a hydrogen atom?

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Textbook Question

The energy required to ionize sodium is 496 kJ/mol. What minimum frequency of light is required to ionize sodium?

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Textbook Question

Suppose that in an alternate universe, the possible values of l are the integer values from 0 to n (instead of 0 to n - 1). Assuming no other differences between this imaginary universe and ours, how many orbitals would exist in each level? a. n = 1 b. n = 2 c. n = 3

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