Take the potential energy of a hydrogen atom to be zero for infinite separation of the electron and proton.Then the ground state energy of a hydrogen atom is -13.6 eV.The minus sign indicates:
A)the kinetic energy is negative
B)the potential energy is positive
C)the electron might escape from the atom
D)the electron and proton are bound together
E)none of the above

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The minus sign indicates that the total energy (kinetic energy + potential energy) of the hydrogen atom is lower than zero, which means that the electron and proton are bound together. If the potential energy were positive, the electron and proton would repel each other and the atom would not be stable. Additionally, there is no information given to suggest that the kinetic energy is negative or that the electron might escape from the atom.

Take the Potential Energy of a Hydrogen Atom to Be