What happens to electrons when light of sufficient energy hits them?

When light of sufficient energy strikes electrons, they can either move to a higher energy level within an atom or be completely ejected from the atom. This phenomenon is closely associated with the photoelectric effect, where photons, or particles of light, impart energy to electrons. If the energy of the incoming photon exceeds the work function of the electron, it can free the electron from the attraction of the nucleus, effectively allowing it to escape from the atom.

In the case of an electron gaining energy from a photon but not enough to be ejected, it may still absorb the energy and transition to a higher energy level or orbital within the atom. This excitation can influence the atom's chemical properties and its interaction with other atoms.

The other options do not accurately describe what occurs when light interacts with electrons in this context. For example, simply releasing energy as light does not account for both possible outcomes of excitation or ejection. Similarly, stability and cessation of movement do not typically occur with the absorption of light energy, and electrons do not combine with other electrons as a result of light absorption in this scenario. Instead, they undergo transitions that are fundamentally driven by energy absorption from photons.