A hydrogen atom is in its n = 2 excited state when its electron absorbs $9.5 \mathrm { eV }$ in an interaction with a photon. What is the energy of the resulting free electron?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The energy of the resulting free electron is equal to the energy of the absorbed photon minus the ionization energy of hydrogen. The ionization energy of hydrogen is 13.6 eV, so the energy of the resulting free electron is 9.5 eV - 13.6 eV = -4.1 eV. The negative sign indicates that the electron is not bound to the atom.

A Hydrogen Atom Is in Its N = 2 Excited 9.5eV9.5 \mathrm { eV }9.5eV

A Hydrogen Atom Is in Its N = 2 Excited $9.5 \mathrm { eV }$