Worked example: Calculating the maximum wavelength capable of ionization | Khan Academy | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR
Calculate the longest wavelength of light capable of ionizing an atom of silver in the gas phase.
Key Insights
- 🫀 The first ionization energy represents the energy required for an outermost electron to escape from an atom.
- 🙂 The longest wavelength of light capable of ionizing an atom corresponds to the minimum energy or frequency required for ionization.
- 🙂 Calculations involving energy, wavelength, frequency, and the speed of light can help determine the longest wavelength capable of ionizing silver atoms.
Transcript
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Questions & Answers
Q: What is the first ionization energy?
The first ionization energy refers to the energy required for the outermost electron to escape from an atom, completely detaching from it.
Q: Why is the longest wavelength of light relevant in this context?
The longest wavelength corresponds to the lowest frequency and energy. Therefore, by finding the longest wavelength, we can determine the minimum energy required to ionize an atom of silver.
Q: How does one calculate the first ionization energy per atom?
To calculate the first ionization energy per atom, you multiply the given ionization energy by the number of atoms per mole and then take the reciprocal.
Q: How can the longest wavelength of light capable of ionizing silver atoms be determined?
The longest wavelength can be found by dividing the speed of light by the first ionization energy per atom, which has been calculated as approximately 1.21 x 10^-18 joules.
Summary & Key Takeaways
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The content explains the concept of first ionization energy, which refers to the energy required for the outermost electron to completely escape from an atom.
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The longest wavelength of light capable of ionizing an atom of silver in the gas phase is determined by finding the first ionization energy per atom and using it in conjunction with the equations relating wavelength, frequency, energy, and the speed of light.
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The final result shows that the longest wavelength of light for ionizing silver atoms is approximately 1.64 x 10^-7 meters.
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