Why do metals shine?

Why do metals shine?

This was the most fascinating question when I was very young.And I would like to give answer in one line i.e. Due to a phenomena related to Photoelectric effect ,which occurs in metals.

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What is Photoelectric effect?

It is a natural phenomena which occurs in metals when light (beam of photons having a particular energy required to knock of electron) strikes a metal it creates ejection of electron or energy is reflected as (once electron received some energy which is less than work function of metal it just gets excites not ionise and when it returns to its original state it emits photons)

What is work function?

It is a specific value(different for all metals) of energy above which the electron gets ionise if it will be hit with photon of energy > work function of metal

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