When a hydrogen atom absorbs a photon that raises it to the n = 4 state, what is the greatest number of photons that can be emitted by that atom as it returns to the ground state?
A)3
B)4
C)5
D)The correct answer is not given.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When a hydrogen atom absorbs a photon that raises it to the n = 4 state, it can emit a maximum of three photons as it returns to the ground state. This is because the energy difference between the n = 4 and n = 3 states is equal to the energy of a photon with a wavelength of 656 nm, the energy difference between the n = 3 and n = 2 states is equal to the energy of a photon with a wavelength of 486 nm, and the energy difference between the n = 2 and n = 1 states is equal to the energy of a photon with a wavelength of 121 nm.

When a Hydrogen Atom Absorbs a Photon That Raises It