- #1
p.tryon
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This is a question from a chem textbook but it seems relevant to electrodynamics/quantum mechanics. The energy to ionize a hydrogen atom in its ground state is given by:
En = -Rhc / n2
Ei = Rhc (because the electron is being taken to infinity) = 1312kJ/mol
The book claims that to ionize a He+ ion (which has 2 protons in its nucleus) would require 4 times the amount of energy. However the potential energy of two charges separated by distance r is given by
P.E. = kq1q2/r
Since the charge of an electron is the same in both cases (the H atom and the He ion) and the nuclear charge is doubled in the case of the He+ ion- shouldn't the P.E. at infinity (therefore ionization energy) also double? (not quadruple as the book claims!)
En = -Rhc / n2
Ei = Rhc (because the electron is being taken to infinity) = 1312kJ/mol
The book claims that to ionize a He+ ion (which has 2 protons in its nucleus) would require 4 times the amount of energy. However the potential energy of two charges separated by distance r is given by
P.E. = kq1q2/r
Since the charge of an electron is the same in both cases (the H atom and the He ion) and the nuclear charge is doubled in the case of the He+ ion- shouldn't the P.E. at infinity (therefore ionization energy) also double? (not quadruple as the book claims!)