What happens to an electron when excited by light at the excitation wavelength?
A) It remains in the same orbital.
B) It moves to a lower energy orbital.
C) It moves to a higher energy orbital.
D) It emits a photon.
E) It is filtered.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When an electron is excited by light at the excitation wavelength, it moves to a higher energy orbital. This higher energy state is typically short-lived, and the electron will eventually return to its original ground state through an emission of light at a longer wavelength (fluorescence) or by releasing the excess energy as heat.

What Happens to an Electron When Excited by Light at the Excitation