Ionization energy and speed of electron

[lkh1986]

A neon sign is a gas discharge tube in which electrons traveling from the cathode to anode collide with neon atoms in dicharge tube and knocks electrons off of them. As electrons return to the neon ions and drop to lower energy levels, light is given off. How fast would an electron have to be moving to eject an electron from an atom of neon,which has a first ionization energy of 2080KJ per mol.

OK, I got 2 set of solutions, buI don't know which one of them is the correct one, maybe neither is correct, too.

For solution number 1, I calculate the ionization energy for 1 atom of neon, by dividing 2080 by Avogadro number. Then, I get E. I obtain the mass of 1 atom of neon, by dividing its molar mass by Avogadro number, too. Using E= (1/2)(mv^2), i get the value of v=1.436x10^4 m/s.

For solution number 2, i do the same thing, except for the value of m, I substitute in the m for an electron. Finally, I get v=2.754x10^6 m/s.

Which one is the correct solution? Or neither? Thanks.

 

[Hootenanny]

One solution is correct, the other is incorrect. Which do you think is which and why?

 

[lkh1986]

I think the solution which I substitute the value of m equals the mass of an electron seems correct. My understanding of the situation of this problem is as such: the kinetic energy of the high-speed moving electron has been "changed" to the energy that is required to knock out an electron from a neon atom, which is later become te light energy.

May I know where the electron that are being accelerated comes from? Is it from the neon atom itself? Or it is "already there" in the discharge tube? Thanks.

 

[Hootenanny]

I think the solution which I substitute the value of m equals the mass of an electron seems correct. My understanding of the situation of this problem is as such: the kinetic energy of the high-speed moving electron has been "changed" to the energy that is required to knock out an electron from a neon atom, which is later become te light energy.

Yes, the latter answer is correct.

May I know where the electron that are being accelerated comes from? Is it from the neon atom itself? Or it is "already there" in the discharge tube? Thanks.

A brief introduction from howstuffworks.com;

The idea behind a neon light is simple. Inside the glass tube there is a gas like neon, argon or krypton at low pressure. At both ends of the tube there are metal electrodes. When you apply a high voltage to the electrodes, the neon gas ionizes, and electrons flow through the gas. These electrons excite the neon atoms and cause them to emit light that we can see. Neon emits red light when energized in this way. Other gases emit other colors.