Question

The energy required to eject an electron from sodium metal is dependent on its:

a) Temperature
b) Atomic mass
c) Atomic number
d) Proton count

Answer 1

The energy required to eject an electron from sodium metal is dependent on its first ionization energy, which is the energy required to remove one electron from an atom in the gaseous state. The first ionization energy is influenced by the attraction of the positive nucleus for the negatively charged electron.

Step-by-step explanation:

The energy required to eject an electron from sodium metal is dependent on its first ionization energy. The first ionization energy is the energy required to remove one electron from an atom in the gaseous state. In the case of sodium, the energy required to eject an electron is influenced by the attraction of the positive nucleus for the negatively charged electron. As you move down a group in the periodic table, the first ionization energy generally decreases due to the increasing atomic radius and shielding effect.