3.
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TOPIC: 3.12 THE PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT
ENDURING UNDERSTANDING:
SAP-8 Spectroscopy can determine the structure and concentration in a mixture of a chemical species.
LEARNING OBJECTIVE:
SAP-8.B Explain the properties of an absorbed or emitted photon in relationship to an electronic transition in an atom
or molecule.
ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE:
SAP-8.B.1 When a photon is absorbed (or emitted) by an atom or molecule, the energy of the species is increased (or
decreased) by an amount equal to the energy of the photon.
SAP-8.B.2 The wavelength of the electromagnetic wave is related to its frequency and the speed of light by the equation:
c = λν.
The energy of a photon is related to the frequency of the electromagnetic wave through Planck’s equation:
E = ℎν.
EQUATION(S):
E = ℎν
c = λν.
NOTES:
PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT
When light shines on the surface of metal, electrons can be ejected from the surface, this is known as the
photoelectric effect. The photo- prefix just describes that the electrons were ejected using light.
The photoelectric effect is based on light having wave-like and
particle-like properties, as predicted by Albert Einstein. Light
is composed of photons, with the energy = hν. The image
below shows the light as the red wavy lines striking the
surface of the metal (the rectangle) and causing electrons to
be ejected from the surface. By measuring the amount of
energy needed to remove the electrons we can deduce how
tightly the electrons are being held in the atom, this is known
as the binding energy. Greater energy values indicate the
electrons that are closest to the nucleus or that the nucleus is
a higher charge.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f5/Photoelectric_effect.svg
https://www.khanacademy.org/science/physics/quantum-physics/photons/a/photoelectric-effect?modal=1
This image shows that not all light will cause electrons to be ejected. The red light does not have enough energy to
remove electrons. The amount of energy needed to remove an electron is measured by the threshold frequency, ν0.
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3.12
If a frequency higher than the threshold frequency is
used the electrons will be ejected with more kinetic
energy.
https://www.simply.science/images/content/chemistry
/structure_of_matter/quantum_theory/conceptmap/Photo_Electric_Effect_Chem.html
The amount of energy needed to eject an electron can
also be thought of in terms of the longest wavelength
that will still eject an electron, this is called the threshold
wavelength, λMAX, and any waves that are shorter than
the max will have enough energy to eject electrons.
https://www.simply.science/images/content/chemistry/structure_of_matter/quantum_theory/conceptmap/Phot
o_Electric_Effect_Chem.html
Energy is proportional to frequency, but inversely proportional to the wavelength.
E=hν And because E=hc/λ
E = Energy (J) E = Energy (J)
h = Plank’s Constant, 6.626x10-34 Js c=νλ h = Plank’s Constant, 6.626x10-34 Js
ν = frequency (Hz, s-1) c = speed of light, 3.00x108 m/s
λ = wavelength (m)
It is useful to know that wavelengths are often measured in nm. 1x10-9m = 1 nm
https://sites.google.com/site/chempendix/em-spectrum
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3.12
Here is a little more background information.
The total energy of the light, the photon, Ephoton, is equal to the
kinetic energy of the ejected electron, KEelectron plus the energy
needed to remove the electron, the binding energy. The energy
to remove the electron is known as the work function for the
substance, Ф, Phi. The work function differs for different
materials.
Ephoton = KEelectron + Ф
https://chemdemos.uoregon.edu/demos/Photoelectric-Effect-
Computer-Simulation-PHET#
(work function or binding energy) Ф = hc/ λMAX = hν0
SUMMARY OF THE PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT
1) The energy of the photons (light) must meet the minimum energy. This is given in terms of being a higher
frequency than the threshold frequency, ν0, or having a shorter wavelength that the λMAX. If the minimum
energy is not met, electrons will not be emitted.
2) The rate of emission of the photoelectrons is known as the photoelectric current. Photoelectric current is
proportional to the intensity of the light.
3) If the minimum energy is met to eject electrons, the kinetic energy of the photoelectrons is dependent on
the energy of the light used to eject the electrons.
For further information visit: Photoelectric Effect at Khan Academy
I DO:
When a metal surface is exposed to light with increasing frequency and energy of photons, electrons first begin to
be ejected from the metal when the energy of the photons is 3.3 x 10－19 J.
What is the frequency of light with photon energy 3.3 x 10－19 J?
E = hν
3.3x10-19 J / 6.626x10-34 Js = 5.0x10-14 sec-1
Color Wavelength (nm)
Calculate the wavelength for light with energy of 3.3x10-19J. Ultraviolet 10-380 nm
E = hC/λ Violet 380-450
λ = (6.626x10-34 Js * 3.00x108 m/s)/ 3.3x10-19 J = 6.0x10-7 m Blue 450-495
Green 495-570
What is the color of this light? Yellow 570-590
6.0x10-7 m x(1x10-9 nm/1m) = 600 nm, Orange Orange 590-620
Red 620-750
WE DO:
CuSO4 solutions absorb light at a wavelength of 635 nm. Calculate the approximate energy
of one photon of this light.
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3.12
YOU DO:
1) The photoelectron spectrum for Potassium is provided below.
Binding Energy per electron (x10-18 J)
http://www.chemmybear.com/aptipin2015/PES%20Presentation%204-18-15.pdf
a) Write the electron configuration for potassium.
b) Identify the valence electron(s) on the graph above. (Circle)
c) Calculate the frequency of light required to remove the valence electron(s).
2) The energy required to eject an electron from sodium metal using the photoelectric effect is 275 kJ/mol.
What is the maximum wavelength in nm needed for this to occur?
3) Calculate the frequency of red light with a wavelength of 715 nm.
4) The ionization energy of silver is 731 kJ/mol. Is light with a wavelength of 415 nm sufficient to remove an
electron from a silver atom in the gaseous phase?
