[Physics] Could all the electrons from the metal be ejected out during photoelectric effect

quantum mechanics

During photoelectric effect when an electron absorbs a photon having energy greater than the threshold energy,it is ejected from the metal
So when the metal continuously gets photons then could all the electrons from the metal get ejected?

Best Answer

So when the metal continuously gets photons then could all the electrons from the metal get ejected?

The answer to this particular question is simply, unequivocally, no.

It is inconceivable that all the electrons could be removed while leaving something recognizable as the metal (object). Recall that it is the (outermost, valence) electrons that determine chemical properties.

If hypothetically, by some unknown mechanism, all of the electrons were removed, only the positively charged nuclei of the atoms would remain, all (strongly) repelling each other and with no way to form chemical bonds.

Other answers have addressed the fact that the metal becomes positively charged as electrons are ejected and collected thus attracting electrons back to the metal so this answer is just to address the quoted question.

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