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Name:  Doug
Status:  educator
Age:  40s
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 2000-2001
Question:
Regarding plasma: I understand that ionized hydrogen would separate the proton from the electron. What about heavier gases? Do all or only part of the electrons ionize from the nucleus depending upon the amount of ionizing energy? Thanks in advance. Doug Broyles

Replies:
Generally, only some of the electrons will depart. As you guessed, the more protons there are in an atomic nucleus, the more energy is required to strip away all the electrons.

Richard E. Barrans Jr., Ph.D.
Assistant Director
PG Research Foundation, Darien, Illinois


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