Question

Five possible transitions for a hydrogen atom are listed below: Select whether the atom gains or loses energy for each transition. Loses: n_i = 4, n_f = 2 Loses: n_i = 7; n_f = 4 Gains: n_i = 2; n_f = 5 Gains: n_i = 3; n_f = 6 Gains: n_i = 3; n_f = 4 Find the transition where the atom gains the most energy. How much energy does the atom gain? 2.86 eV Find the transition which will emit the shortest wavelength photon. What is the energy of the photon of this transition?

Answer 1

Atom will lose energy if transition is from higher state to lower state atom will gainenergy if the transition is from lower state to higher state hence the transitor can be marked as follows E = -13.6ev(1/n^2f-1/n^2_t) maximum energy gain will be for the transition ni = 2 to nf = 5 E = -13.6ev(1/n^2f-1/n^2_t) E = -13.6ev(1/2^2-1/4^2) = -2.55ev hence the energy of emission of shortest wavelength photon is -2.55ev