"Work Function" (from Post-Assessment Module)

[Chloe Alviz 1E]

My question refers to a problem from the post-assessment module:

"Light hits a sodium metal surface and the velocity of the ejected electron is 6.61 x 10^5 ms-1. The work function for sodium is 150.6 kJ mol-1...."

In this question, what does the "work function" refer to? Is it supposed to be the threshold energy?

[Chem_Mod]

Work function (kJ/mol) is the energy needed to eject one mole of e- from the metal surface.

Light is hitting the sodium metal, and ejected e- have a specified velocity, indicating it has kinetic energy. The energy of the incoming light is used to eject e- (work function), and any leftover energy goes towards kinetic energy.

[Jocelyn Thorp 1A]

Chem_Mod answered your question already but if you want the equation it's used in, here you go

The work function is the Φ in the equation that relates the kinetic energy of the ejected electron to the energy supplied by a photon and the work function.

[005206171]

In the context of the photoelectric effect and experiment, the work functions describe the minimum energy a photon needs to knock off an electron so that the electron can overcome it's an attraction to the plate. Some electrons are more attracted to the metal than others. Those with the highest max kinetic energy will have to use the least amount of energy from the photon to pop off the metal.

[Shrayes Raman]

The work function refers to the energy required to eject an electron. This is subtracted from the initial energy of the incoming photon to find the energy of the photon as it leaves