What is the eV unit? [ENDORSED]

[Toshio_Kanazawa_3B]

Hey everyone, so I don't exactly get what the electron volt unit means. I know it's used to describe work function values, but what exactly does it show?

[Daniel_Callos_4I]

Hey,
The electron volt is the amount of work (force over a distance) necessary to move an electron across an electrical pressure difference of one volt.

Hope this helps and happy chemistry!

-Dan Callos

[NicholasKillmeier3K]

Also,

1 eV= 1.602x10^(-19)Joules

1 J (Joule) =(1kg x m² x s^(-2))

Hope this helps!

[sid bauer]

Also the term electron volt is self defining in that 1 eV is literally the charge of one electron times 1 Volt.
(1.6 x 10 ^-19 C) * (1 kg m^2 s^-2 C^-1) = 1.6 * 10^-19 J

In reality it is just about having ease of units more than anything else

Hope this helps!

[Stef Newell]

eV is short for "electron volt" which is the amount of work required to move one electron through one volt of electrical pressure difference.

[Courtney Cheney 3E]

Is it necessary to memorize the conversion J?

[Adrian Franco 3H]

Is it necessary to memorize the conversion J?

Yes, I recommend that you memorize it since some problems in the book are in keV and eV. But that conversion you listed is given on the test anyway.