Define energy level - Leaving Cert Chemistry - Question c - 2008
Question c
Define energy level.
Distinguish between ground state and excited state for the electron in a hydrogen atom.
The diagram shows how Bohr related the lines in the hy... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Define energy level - Leaving Cert Chemistry - Question c - 2008
Step 1
Define energy level.
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Answer
An energy level is a discrete (fixed, restricted, definite, specific) energy of an electron in the electron orbit (shell) of an atom, where electrons of equal energy can exist.
Step 2
Distinguish between ground state and excited state for the electron in a hydrogen atom.
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Answer
The ground state refers to the lowest energy state of an electron, where it resides in the first energy level (n = 1). The excited state refers to any energy level higher than the ground state (n > 1), in which the electron has absorbed energy and moved to a higher orbit.
Step 3
Name the series of lines in the visible part of the line emission spectrum of hydrogen.
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The series of lines in the visible part of the line emission spectrum of hydrogen is known as the Balmer series.
Step 4
Explain how the expression $E_2 - E_1 = hf$ links the occurrence of the visible lines in the hydrogen spectrum to energy levels in a hydrogen atom.
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The expression E2−E1=hf represents the energy difference between two energy levels (higher level E2 and lower level E1) in an atom. This energy difference is related to the frequency f of the emitted light when an electron transitions from a higher energy level to a lower one. According to Planck's constant, this energy difference indicates that the occurrence of visible lines in the hydrogen spectrum corresponds to specific energy transitions of electrons falling from higher to lower energy levels.
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