Atoms in a Vacuum: Valance Electrons & Energy Output

In summary, raising the valence electrons per atom would have no significant effect on the other atoms. The energy given off as photons would be the same regardless of whether the conduction electron falls back to being a valance electron or not. There is no table that lists the wavelength, frequency, and energy given off per element in a constant environment.
  • #1
GoldenAtlantis
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If I had a group of ten atoms in a vacuum what effect if any would raising the valance electrons per atom have on the other atoms? The second question is that when the conduction electron falls back to being a valance electron is all the energy given off as photons or is some heat (proportion?) I was also wondering if there is a table for the wavelength/frequency/energy that is given off per element (In some constant environment)? Thanks
 
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  • #2
Either there's more to your questions than what you have described, or they are very vague.

GoldenAtlantis said:
If I had a group of ten atoms in a vacuum what effect if any would raising the valance electrons per atom have on the other atoms?

Here, the "vagueness" comes in in terms of the degree of interaction that each atom has on the others. If the atoms are on average a meter apart, then each one of them really have no clue what the other one is doing. Thus, your question really cannot be answered until YOU clarify what the conditions are.

The second question is that when the conduction electron falls back to being a valance electron is all the energy given off as photons or is some heat (proportion?) I was also wondering if there is a table for the wavelength/frequency/energy that is given off per element (In some constant environment)? Thanks

Again, this is also very vague. Are you asking for what happens in a semiconductor, or a "conductor"? A conduction electron in a conductor does not fall back into the valence band because the conduction band IS the valence band in a metal. In a semiconductor, it very much depends on how the semiconductor is fabricated, because if this happens way deep in the bulk of the semiconductor, then there's a good chance the photon would not make it out and will be absorbed as heat or via other absorption. One also have to consider if this is a direct band gap or an indirect band gap transition, because the latter requires the assistance of the lattice phonon.

Zz.
 
  • #3
Also (if your second question is supposed to be related to the first scenario), with a collection of ten atoms you will not see any valence or conduction bands. At best, if you can make a cluster out of them (which is different from having isolated atoms in vacuum), you can form some molecular orbitals with a HOMO and a LUMO.
 
  • #4
Thanks for the information

Thanks, I will look into this information. Thanks for the help
 

1. What is an atom?

An atom is the basic unit of matter that makes up all elements. It consists of a nucleus, which contains protons and neutrons, surrounded by electrons.

2. What is a vacuum?

A vacuum is a space that is completely devoid of matter, including air. In scientific terms, it is a space with a very low pressure, close to or at zero.

3. What are valence electrons?

Valence electrons are the outermost electrons in an atom that are involved in chemical bonding with other atoms. They determine the reactivity and chemical properties of an element.

4. How do valence electrons affect an atom's energy output?

The number and arrangement of valence electrons determine an atom's energy output. When an atom gains or loses valence electrons, it can become more stable and release energy in the form of light or heat.

5. How are atoms in a vacuum different from atoms in a non-vacuum environment?

In a vacuum, atoms have more space between them and do not interact with other atoms as much, leading to a decrease in energy output. In a non-vacuum environment, atoms are closer together and can interact more, resulting in higher energy output.

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