When a hydrogen atom's electron goes from an energy state of n = 1 to n = 3,
A) the radius of the electron's orbit is unchanged.
B) the radius of the electron's orbit is increased.
C) the radius of the electron's orbit is decreased.
D) the radius of the electron's orbit is infinite.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When an electron in a hydrogen atom moves from a lower energy level (n = 1) to a higher energy level (n = 3), the radius of its orbit increases because the electron is moving to a higher, less tightly bound state.

When a Hydrogen Atom's Electron Goes from an Energy State