The Photoelectric Properties of Zinc

Abstract

The work function of a vacuum distilled surface of zinc was found to be 4.24 volts at 1.5 × ${10}^{-8\mathrm{}}$ mm pressure; as the pressure of air was increased the work function decreased to a minimum at about ${10}^{-6\mathrm{}}$ mm pressure and then increased. Helium had no effect to a pressure of 3 mm. Nitrogen had no effect to a pressure of ${10}^{-3\mathrm{}}$ mm.