Atom A requires photons of wavelength no longer than 250nm to be ionized from its ground state, whereas atom B requires photons no longer than 150nm. Which statement about their binding energies is most accurate?
(a) Atom A has the larger binding energy because binding energy is directly proportional to threshold wavelength.
(b) Atoms A and B have identical binding energies because both threshold wavelengths lie in the ultraviolet region.
(c) Atom B has the larger binding energy because a shorter threshold wavelength corresponds to a higher-energy photon.
(d) The relative binding energies cannot be determined without knowing the photon intensity that strikes each atom.