A high-resolution PES experiment is performed on a gaseous sample of species Z⁺
CHEMISTRY · Multi-part · AP · Chemistry · Atomic Structure and Properties · Atomic Structure and Properties
Problem
A high-resolution PES experiment is performed on a gaseous sample of species Z⁺. The resulting spectrum displays the four peaks shown below.
Peak label
Binding energy (eV)
Relative area
W
1210
2.0
X
410
2.0
Y
99
5.9
Z
52
0.8
Notes:
1. Instrumental uncertainty in peak areas is ±0.1 electron equivalents.
2. The manufacturer reports an overall ±1 eV systematic error in the energy scale.
Address the following tasks.
(a) Correct the measured relative areas for instrumental uncertainty and, within experimental error, determine the integer number of electrons represented by each peak.
(b) Using your results from part (a), propose a complete electron configuration for species Z⁺.
(c) Deduce the electron configuration of the corresponding neutral atom Z and determine its atomic number.
(d) The manufacturer claims that the ±1 eV energy calibration error does not affect subshell assignments for species of similar nuclear charge. Provide a reasoned argument, supported by specific features of this spectrum, to evaluate that claim.