Toys are familiar things. we can see and play with and understand toys. So it is really useful to use toys as models of how and why atoms and molecules behave the way the do. We sort of understand that when we throw a ball at a cup at the carnival, the ball usually bounces out again. (If it’s got enough energy to go in, then unless it can lose that energy, it still has enough energy to bounce out.)
So if we collide electrons with atoms, why doesn’t the atom “catch” the electron. Well, it is a little like throwing that ball at the cup. If the electron has enough energy to go into the atom, then unless the electron can lose that energy, it still has enough energy to come out of the atom.
That’s why in fluorescent lights, neon atoms form positive ions, not negative ions. The electric current (moving electrons) hits neon atoms, but the neon atoms do not capture the electrons to form negative ions. Instead, it often knocks out another electron to form a positive ion.
Toys are familiar things. we can see and play with and understand toys. So it is really useful to use toys as models of how and why atoms and molecules behave the way the do. We sort of understand that when we throw a ball at a cup at the carnival, the ball usually bounces out again. (If it’s got enough energy to go in, then unless it can lose that energy, it still has enough energy to bounce out.)
So if we collide electrons with atoms, why doesn’t the atom “catch” the electron. Well, it is a little like throwing that ball at the cup. If the electron has enough energy to go into the atom, then unless the electron can lose that energy, it still has enough energy to come out of the atom.
That’s why in fluorescent lights, neon atoms form positive ions, not negative ions. The electric current (moving electrons) hits neon atoms, but the neon atoms do not capture the electrons to form negative ions. Instead, it often knocks out another electron to form a positive ion.
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