What is the energy difference between the transition with the longest wavelength and the transition with the shortest wavelength in the Balmer series?
A)10.2 eV
B)3.4 eV
C)1.51 eV
D)12.1 eV
E)0.66 eV

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The longest wavelength transition in the Balmer series is n=2 to n=3, which corresponds to a photon with a wavelength of 656.3 nm (whereas the shortest wavelength transition is n=2 to n=∞, corresponding to a photon with infinite wavelength). The energy of this photon can be calculated using the equation E=hc/λ, where h is Planck's constant and c is the speed of light. Plugging in the wavelength value for the n=2 to n=3 transition, we get E=1.51 eV. The energy difference between this and the shortest wavelength transition is infinite (since the energy of the photon in the n=2 to n=∞ transition is zero), so the answer is C: 1.51 eV.

What Is the Energy Difference Between the Transition with the Longest