Question

To what orbitals may a 3p electron make electron-dipole allowed radiative transitions? Construct a Grotrian diagram which shows the allowed transitions just for cases where Δn= + or - 1.

Answer 1

According to modern atomic theory,

An electron emits a radiation (photon) when it is de-excited from a higher energy orbital to lower energy orbital and absorbs a radiation (photon) when it jumps from lower energy level orbital to higher energy level orbital.

For a 3p electron to cause a a radiation to emit or absorb :

it should jump a higher level energy orbital like 3d or higher energy orbits

Else it should be de-excited to lower energy orbitals like 3s or lower enegy orbits.

Grotrian Diagram for Δn= +1 or - 1

Higher energ orbit 2 Lower en