The electron affinity of the lutetium atom was measured using photoelectron

spectroscopy. In this experiment, a beam of lutetium negative ions, Lu-, was

prepared and irradiated with a laser beam having a wavelength of 1064 nm. If
the emitted electron in this experiment has a kinetic energy of 0.825 eV (1 eV =
1.602 × 10–22 kJ), what is the electron affinity of lutetium? (Ebbing, D. D.;
Gammon, S. D. General Chemistry, 10th ed.)

Photon energy is given by

E=hν

Since we are given the wavelength rather than the frequency, we solve the
familiar relationship c=νλ for the frequency, yielding
𝑐
𝜈𝜈 =
λ

Combining these two equations gives the useful relationship

ℎ𝑐
E= λ

Now substituting known values yields

(6.63 x 10-3 4Js)(3.00 x 108 m/s)

E= 1064 x 10-9 m

E = 1.87 x 10-19 J

Converting to eV, the energy of the photon is

1𝑒𝑉
𝐸 = (1.87 x 10-19J) ( 1kJ
)( )
1.602 𝑥 10 kJ 1000J
-22

= 1. 1𝟏𝟏 𝐞𝐞𝐞𝐞

Finding the kinetic energy of the ejected electron

KEe = hν – Φ

= 1.17 eV – 0.825

eV KEe = 0.345 eV
 1.602 𝑥 10-22kJ 1000 J
𝐾𝐸𝑒 = (0.345 eV) ( )( )
1 eV 1 kJ
𝐾𝐸𝑒 = 𝟓𝟓. 𝟓𝟓𝟓𝟓 𝐱𝐱 1𝟏𝟏-20 J