The hydrogen-like elements (valence +1)exhibit a splitting of the energy states without an external magnetic field; this is due to
A)the interaction of the spin and orbital angular momenta.
B)the penetration of the electron into the inert core of filled subshells.
C)the fact that in a downward transition the orbital angular momentum must change by one.
D)the requirement that no two electrons can be in the same state at the same time.
E)None of these is correct.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The splitting of energy states in hydrogen-like elements without external magnetic field is known as fine structure splitting. This is caused by the interaction of the electron's spin and orbital angular momentum, known as spin-orbit coupling. This interaction causes the energy levels to split into multiple sub-levels, which account for the observed spectral lines.

The Hydrogen-Like Elements (Valence +1)exhibit a Splitting of the Energy