Is it possible to ionise a solid, so that it has no electrons left?

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SUMMARY

Ionising 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 remove electrons. This process leads to the ejection of particles due to the positive nuclear charge. In contrast, conductive materials like metals maintain their structure because they possess a shared cloud of free electrons that stabilizes the nuclei by attracting stray electrons. Thus, while surface ionisation can occur, complete ionisation of solids is not feasible without structural consequences.

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  • Understanding of ionisation processes in solids
  • Knowledge of UV light effects on materials
  • Familiarity with Coulomb explosion phenomena
  • Basic principles of electron cloud theory in conductive materials
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  • Explore the concept of Coulomb explosion in detail
  • Study the electron cloud model in metals
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Physicists, materials scientists, and engineers interested in ionisation processes, surface chemistry, and the behavior of conductive versus insulating materials.

Josiah
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TL;DR
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
 
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Josiah said:
TL;DR Summary: 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
What would hold the atoms (nuclei) together?

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).
 
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Josiah said:
Hi, is it possible to ionise a solid, so that it has no electrons left?
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.

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.
 
DrClaude said:
What would hold the atoms (nuclei) together?
Um, the sound of the kaboom? :smile:
 
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