Topical Questions These questions are keyed to the major topics in the chapter. Usually...

Topical Questions

These questions are keyed to the major topics in the chapter. Usually a question that is answered at the back of this book is paired with a similar one that is not.

If energy is absorbed by a hydrogen atom in its ground state, the atom is excited to a higher energy state. For example, the excitation of an electron from the energy level with n = 1 to a level with n = 4 requires radiation with a wavelength of 97.3 nm. Which of these transitions would require radiation of a wavelength longer than this?

(a) n = 2 to n = 4

(b) n = 1 to n = 3

(c) n = 1 to n = 5

(d) n = 3 to n = 5

(See Figure 7.8.)