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Imagine that the electron in a hydrogen atom is replaced by a muon (μ). The mass of the muon particle is 207 times that of an electron, and charge is equal to the charge of an electron. The ionization potential of this hydrogen atom will be:

(a) Less than that for an electron
(b) Equal to that for an electron
(c) Greater than that for an electron
(d) Zero

User Tomocafe
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Final answer:

The ionization potential of a hydrogen atom with a muon replacing the electron would be greater than that for an electron, due to the muon's larger mass resulting in a tighter orbit and higher necessary energy for removal.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student asked about the ionization potential of a hydrogen atom if the electron is replaced by a muon, which has a mass 207 times that of an electron but the same charge. The ionization potential in this case would actually be greater than that for an electron. This is because the ionization energy is directly proportional to the mass of the orbiting particle and inversely proportional to the square of the orbit radius (based on the Bohr model of the atom), and the muon, due to its larger mass, would orbit much closer to the nucleus. Therefore, the ionization potential for a muon in a hydrogen-like atom would be higher because more energy would be required to remove the muon from its tighter, lower energy orbit.

User Psparago
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