Calculating Fermi Energy for Gold Atoms

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the Fermi energy for gold atoms, given the density and atomic mass of gold. The original poster attempts to apply the Fermi energy equation but is uncertain about determining the number of electrons, which is essential for the calculation.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the need for the number of electrons and the volume in the context of the Fermi energy equation. There is confusion regarding the mass used in the volume calculation and its relation to the sample size.

Discussion Status

Some participants question the necessity of knowing the number of electrons for calculating the Fermi energy, while others suggest that the information provided about the number of electrons per atom might be sufficient to determine N. The conversation indicates a lack of consensus on the approach to take.

Contextual Notes

There is an ongoing discussion about the assumptions made regarding the mass and volume calculations, as well as the implications of using a single atom's mass in the context of the entire sample.

roam
Messages
1,265
Reaction score
12

Homework Statement



The density of gold (atomic mass 197) is 19.32 g/cm3. Assuming each gold atom contributes one electron to the free electron Fermi gas, calculate the Fermi energy in eV.

Homework Equations



Fermi energy is given by:

E_F=\frac{h^2}{8m_e} \left( \frac{3N}{\pi V} \right)^{2/3}

The total number of electrons is

N= \int^{\infty}_0 n(E) dE = \int^{E_F}_0 (8 \pi V/h^3) (2m_e^3)^{1/2} E^{1/2} dE = \frac{16 \pi V(2m_e^3)^{1/2}}{3h^3} E_F^{3/2}

The Attempt at a Solution



To find the Fermi energy I want to use the first equation but I need to know the number of electrons N (which is equal to the number of atoms), and the volume V. I found the volume but I'm not sure how to find N:

V=\frac{m}{\rho} = \frac{197 \times (1.66 \times 10^{-27}) \ kg}{19.32 \times (10^{-3}/10^{-6}) \ kg/m^3}

So how can I find the number of electrons? How can I use the second equation to find N without knowing EF? :confused:

Any help is greatly appreciated.
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
Do you really need the number or something else for EF?

Edit:
BTW, what volume did you actually calculate?
 
Dickfore said:
Do you really need the number or something else for EF?

Edit:
BTW, what volume did you actually calculate?

Yes, I believe I need the actual numerical value of EF to be able to use that equation.

I calculated the total volume of the Fermi gas under consideration.
 
Wrong, you are asked to find the Fermi energy by using that equation.

Wrong, the mass that you used is not the mass of the whole sample, but something else.
 
Dickfore said:
Wrong, you are asked to find the Fermi energy by using that equation.

Wrong, the mass that you used is not the mass of the whole sample, but something else.

Sorry. Yes, that's the volume based on the mass of a single atom.

How can we solve that equation for EF without knowing N?

We don't know how many atoms are in the sample...
 
roam said:
Sorry. Yes, that's the volume based on the mass of a single atom.

How can we solve that equation for EF without knowing N?

We don't know how many atoms are in the sample...

So, how many atoms does a sample with a mass equal to one atom contain? You are given the number of electrons each atom contributes. This should suffice to obtain N.
 
Dickfore said:
So, how many atoms does a sample with a mass equal to one atom contain? You are given the number of electrons each atom contributes. This should suffice to obtain N.

So, do you mean we can then just use N=1?
 

Similar threads

Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
4K
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
4K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Replies
4
Views
1K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
4K