Chapter 2, Problem 173IP

As the weapons officer aboard the Srarship Chemistry, it is your duty to configure a photon torpedo to remove an electron from the outer hull of an enemy vessel. You know that the work function (the binding energy of the electron) of the hull of the enemy ship is 7.52 × 10⁻¹⁹ J.

a. What wavelength does your photon torpedo need to be to eject an electron?

b. You find an extra photon torpedo with a wavelength of 259 nm and fire it at the enemy vessel. Does this photon torpedo do any damage to the ship (does it eject an electron)?

c. If the hull of the enemy vessel is made of the element with an electron configura tion of [Ar]4s¹3d¹⁰, what metal is this?