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title: "Photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) is used to measure the binding energies of electrons in atoms. The complete PES spectrum of gaseous neon ( \\(\\text{Ne}\\), \\(Z = 10\\)) exhibits a peak corresponding to the \\(1s\\) subshell at approximately \\(84\\text{ MJ/mol}\\). Which of the following statements best predicts and explains the binding energy of the \\(1s\\) electrons in gaseous argon ( \\(\\text{Ar}\\), \\(Z = 18\\)) compared to that in \\(\\text{Ne}\\)?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/119616/"
date_modified: "2026-08-21T08:11:48+00:00"
---

# Photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) is used to measure the binding energies of electrons in atoms. The complete PES spectrum of gaseous neon (
\(\text{Ne}\), \(Z = 10\)) exhibits a peak corresponding to the \(1s\) subshell at approximately \(84\text{ MJ/mol}\). Which of the following statements best predicts and explains the binding energy of the \(1s\) electrons in gaseous argon (
\(\text{Ar}\), \(Z = 18\)) compared to that in \(\text{Ne}\)?

Photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) is used to measure the binding energies of electrons in atoms. The complete PES spectrum of gaseous neon (
\(\text{Ne}\), \(Z = 10\)) exhibits a peak corresponding to the \(1s\) subshell at approximately \(84\text{ MJ/mol}\). Which of the following statements best predicts and explains the binding energy of the \(1s\) electrons in gaseous argon (
\(\text{Ar}\), \(Z = 18\)) compared to that in \(\text{Ne}\)?

- **A.** The \(1s\) binding energy in \(\text{Ar}\) is less than that in \(\text{Ne}\) because \(\text{Ar}\) has more occupied electron shells, resulting in greater electron-electron repulsion and shielding that weakens the attraction to the \(1s\) electrons.
- **B.** The \(1s\) binding energy in \(\text{Ar}\) is less than that in \(\text{Ne}\) because the larger atomic radius of \(\text{Ar}\) places its \(1s\) electrons farther from the nucleus, decreasing the Coulombic attraction.
- **C.** The \(1s\) binding energy in \(\text{Ar}\) is greater than that in \(\text{Ne}\) because the presence of additional occupied outer subshells increases the effective nuclear charge felt by all lower-energy core electrons.
- **D.** The \(1s\) binding energy in \(\text{Ar}\) is greater than that in \(\text{Ne}\) because \(\text{Ar}\) has a greater nuclear charge (\(18\) protons versus \(10\) protons) and the \(1s\) electrons experience negligible shielding from inner electrons, leading to a stronger Coulombic attraction to the nucleus.

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/119616/*