Question

Ionization Energy?

Answer 1

176.6 aJ

Explanation:

There is sort of a trick in this question. The `F^"+8"` has a +8 charge, but its nuclear charge, Z, is +9.

So then you just plug in your numbers. n=1, z=9, and you get out 176.6 aJ.

Oh, and the ionization energy is positive.

By convention, electrons were said to have zero energy when they are free. When they are in an atom, they then have -Energy. I explain this like a fee electron is up on the surface of the ground and elevation zero. If it is bound in an atom, it is down in a deep pit with -elevation (-energy) (ie. more stable than being on the surface of the ground). If you want to break that electron free, you've got to go down there and grab it and put energy into it to get it back to the surface (give it +elevation, or +energy).

So electrons in atoms have -energy (as the equation above says), and to ionize that electron, you have to put + energy into it.