Final answer:
An electron-volt (eV) is equivalent to 1.602 × 10-19 joules (J), which is the energy given to an electron when it is moved through an electric potential difference of 1 volt.
Step-by-step explanation:
An electron-volt (eV) is a unit of energy that's especially useful on the submicroscopic scale.
It is defined as the energy given to a fundamental charge, like an electron, when it is accelerated through an electric potential difference of 1 volt (V).
By multiplying the charge of an electron, approximately -1.602 x 10-19 coulombs (C), with 1 volt, we get:
1 eV = (-1.602 × 10-19 C) × (1 J/C)
= 1.602 × 10-19 joules (J)
This equation illustrates that an electron-volt is equivalent to 1.602 × 10-19 joules,
providing a direct conversion between these two units of energy.
This conversion is particularly handy when dealing with elementary particle energies, semiconductor physics, and other areas of quantum mechanics.