If a hydrogen atom in the ground state absorbs a photon of energy 12.09 eV,to which state will the electron make a transition?
A)n = 2
B)n = 3
C)n = 4
D)n = 5

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The energy of the absorbed photon must equal the energy difference between the initial and final states of the electron in the hydrogen atom. In this case, the energy required to move the electron from the ground state (n=1) to the first excited state (n=2) is 10.2 eV, which is less than the energy of the absorbed photon (12.09 eV). Therefore, the electron will transition to the n=2 state, making the answer B the best choice.

If a Hydrogen Atom in the Ground State Absorbs a Photon