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What is the difference between work function and ionization energy?

April 26, 2017energy function ionization

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What is the difference between work function and ionization energy?

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The work function is the amount of energy required to remove an electron from an atom in a solid (ie: the Photoelectric effect). The ionization energy is the amount of energy required to remove an electron from a single “free” atom of the same material. As I understand it, atoms in a solid hold onto their electrons more loosely (because of the bonds) and free electrons hold onto their electrons more tightly.