Answer to Question #298899 in Optics for Chemistry

Question

During the photoelectric effect, light knocks electrons out of metals. So why don’t the metals in your home lose their electrons when you turn on the lights?

Answer 1

Answer

During the photoelectric effect, light knocks electrons out of metals.

So radiation of higher frequency(energy) is required to eject next electron. So metal do not get over because after some time, energy of the radiation would be insufficient to eject electrons from metal.