- #1
Josiah
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- I was just wondering about the ionisation of solids.
Hi, is it possible to ionise a solid, so that it has no electrons left?
Josiah
Josiah
B Is it possible to ionise a solid, so that it has no electrons left?
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- Thread starter Josiah
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- Ionization Quantum Solid
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Ionizing a solid to the point of having no electrons left is theoretically possible, but only at the surface of insulators, such as dry plastic polymers, where UV light can eject ionized particles. In this process, the positive nuclear charge of the remaining ions causes them to be expelled once electrons are stripped away. However, conductive materials like metals cannot be fully ionized in this manner because they maintain a cloud of free electrons that stabilizes the structure. The presence of these free electrons allows metals to attract stray electrons and redistribute them as needed, preventing disintegration. Overall, while surface ionization is feasible, complete ionization of solids is limited by their conductive properties.
- #2
DrClaude
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What would hold the atoms (nuclei) together?Josiah said:
Remove too many electrons and the remaining ions will fly apart (for instance by stripping away electrons using laser fields, see e.g., Coulomb explosion).
- #3
Baluncore
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Yes, but only at the surface of insulators. UV light ionises atoms and molecules on the surface of dry plastic polymers. Those particles are then ejected from the solid by the positive nuclear charge because the bonds have been removed. Keeping the surface of a plastic wet transports electrons to ionised sites before the local damage can eject a particle.Josiah said:
No, for conductive materials. Metals will remain intact because they share an internal cloud of free electrons. The positive charged solid attracts or scavenges any stray electrons that may come nearby, then shares them out to where they are needed.
- #4
Vanadium 50
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Um, the sound of the kaboom?DrClaude said:
