Solving the Proton-Muon Capture: Understanding E1 Ionization Energy

[asdf1]

for the following question:
a proton capatures a negative muon (mass=207me). Find the ionization energy of the atom.

my problem:
the answer in my textbook says to use 13.6eV for the E1 ionization energy, but why? i thougth that that value is only true for hydrogen atoms, but that question doesn't seem to have anything to do with a hydrogen atom...

 

[alfredblase]

a hydrogen atom is is made of a proton and an electron. Your textbook seems to think that a system made of a proton and a negative muon has the same ionization energy that you attribute to a system made up of a proton and an electron. Since your textbook is setting the question, I wouldn't argue with it. If you ever have to find the ionzation energy of such a system for yourself, and can't, then make a post asking where to find it.

 

[asdf1]

thank you very much! :)

 

[asdf1]

@@
i just rethought this question, and there's something i think that's weird~
the original ionizing energy has to do with mass, and the muon's mass is 207 times bigger, which is a lot~
so isn't the ionizing energy affected a lot too?

 

[alfredblase]

perhaps you should put the question as it is worded by the textbook, and incude as worded in the textbook any information given. But I agree that the ionization energy would be different although I'm not confident.

 

[asdf1]

hmm... that is the original question~

 

[alfredblase]

sorry, of course, I was half asleep when I wrote the last post and didn't read carefully. my fault :P. I regret I can't help any further.

 

[asdf1]

that's alright~ thanks for you original suggestion! :)