Exam-style question
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An electron collides with an atom and transfers 3 eV of energy. If the atom's ionization energy is 5 eV, what is the outcome of the collision?.
- A.The atom is ionized.
- B.The atom is excited.
- C.The atom remains unchanged.
- D.The atom loses 3 eV.
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- The atom is excited.
Explanation
Why this works
In this collision, the electron transfers 3 eV of energy to the atom. Since the ionization energy is 5 eV, the atom does not have enough energy to be ionized.
However, the energy transferred is sufficient to excite the atom to a higher energy level. Therefore, the correct outcome is that the atom is excited.
Common mistake
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