PES comparing magnesium and sodium

An example figure from the Photoelectron Spectrum generator.

Photoelectron spectra of magnesium, solid, and sodium, dashed and gray behind it, with a key naming each — The photoelectron spectrum of magnesium drawn solid, with sodium’s dashed and gray behind it and a key naming each. Every magnesium peak sits to the left of the matching sodium peak, because magnesium’s extra proton holds each sublevel’s electrons more tightly, and its 3s peak is twice as tall, holding two electrons to sodium’s one.

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Answer key

Magnesium (Mg): 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s²
Sodium (Na): 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s¹
Peaks (MJ/mol, left to right): 1s 126, 2s 9.07, 2p 5.31, 3s 0.74

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