A photoelectron spectrum (PES) plots the number of photoelectrons vs. their binding energies. Each peak corresponds to
- A
An entire shell only
- B
A nuclear transition
- C
A single electron
- Dcheck_circle
An orbital from which electrons can be ionized; relative peak height ~ number of electrons in that orbital
Explanation
PES reveals atomic structure: 1s electrons most tightly bound (rightmost peak), then 2s, 2p, 3s, etc.