Question 7.PS.3: Electron Transitions Four possible electron transitions in a......
Electron Transitions
Four possible electron transitions in a hydrogen atom are given below.
(a) Which transition(s) represent a loss of energy for the atom?
(b) For which transition does the atom gain the greatest quantity of energy?
(c) Which transition corresponds to emission of the greatest quantity of energy?
| n_{initial} | n_{final} | |
| (1) | 2 | 5 |
| (2) | 5 | 3 |
| (3) | 7 | 2 |
| (4) | 4 | 6 |
(a) (2) and (3) (b) (1) (c) (3)
Strategy and Explanation First, consider the initial and final energy levels, and then whether the initial level is greater or less than the final one.
(a) Energy is emitted when electrons fall from a higher n level to a lower n level. The n_7 → n_2 and n_5 → n_3 transitions release energy.
(b) Energy is gained when electrons go from a lower n level to a higher n level. The n_2 → n_5 transition requires more energy than the n_4 → n_6 one.
(c) The n_7 → n_2 transition is the most energetic (Figure 7.8). It represents the greatest energy difference between energy levels.
