Past exam of the chemistry course of the year 4 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge / 2022 / Paper 1 / 11 / b / Solution

Let $\Gamma$ be coverage in $\mathrm{mol}{\mathrm{m}}^{-2}$. Then $n_s=N_A\Gamma$ and the Helmholtz surface-dipole relation iswhere a voltage in volts has the same numerical value as the electron-energy change in electronvolts. Converting the slope from square centimeters to square meters gives $-5\times 10^5\mathrm{V}{\mathrm{m}}^2\mathrm{mo}{\mathrm{l}}^{-1}$. ThereforeEach added molecule produces an effective outward surface dipole of about $2.2$ D, lowering the electron work function. This is the incremental adsorbate-plus-surface dipole, not necessarily the isolated molecular electric dipole moment.