What occurs when an inner shell electron is ejected during the photoelectric effect?

• A. Electromagnetic radiation is emitted
• B. Ionization occurs
• C. Photon energy increases
• D. A secondary X-ray is produced

Answer: (B)

When an inner shell electron is ejected during the photoelectric effect, ionization occurs. In this process, a photon collides with an electron bound to the nucleus of an atom. If the photon has sufficient energy, it can overcome the binding energy that holds the electron in its shell, causing the electron to be ejected from the atom.

This ejection results in the atom becoming positively charged due to the loss of a negatively charged electron. The phenomenon of losing an electron from an atom is precisely what defines ionization. Consequently, since an inner shell electron was ejected, it leads to the formation of a positively charged ion.

After such an event, the atom may undergo further changes, such as the emission of characteristic x-rays as outer shell electrons drop to fill the vacancy left by the ejected electron. However, the direct result of the ejection of an inner shell electron is the ionization of the atom.