Suppose that a certain atom possesses only four distinct energy levels. Assuming that all transitions between levels are possible, how many spectral lines will this atom exhibit?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The number of possible transitions between energy levels can be calculated using the formula N(N-1)/2, where N is the number of energy levels. In this case, N = 4, so the number of possible transitions is 4(4-1)/2 = 6. Each transition will result in a spectral line, so the atom will exhibit 6 spectral lines. Therefore, the best choice is C) six.

Suppose That a Certain Atom Possesses Only Four Distinct Energy