Question

The set of transitions from ni = 3, 4, 5, ... to nf = 2 is called the Balmer series after an early researcher, Johann Jakob Balmer, who figured out a rule similar to the Rydberg formula. Transitions from ni = 2, 3, 4, ... to nf = 1 are called the Lyman series and those from ni = 4, 5, 6, ... to nf = 3 are called the Paschen series. The wavelengths in the Balmer series are in the visible spectrum, those in the Lyman series are in the ultraviolet part of the electromagnetic spectrum and those in the Paschen series are in the infrared. Theodore Lyman and Friedrich Paschen were also researchers on the spectral lines of hydrogen in the early 1900’s. They had to use special techniques to see these invisible wavelengths. Are the hydrogen lines you see in one of these series? If so, which one? Use the Rydberg formula (with the known value for the Rydberg constant) to predict the longest wavelength in each of these three series?

My data aligned with the Balmer series, however I do not know how to identify the longest wavelength in each of the three series. please show work.

Answer 1

Hydrogen lines which we can see is from balmer series of spectral emission.

The longest wave is when frequency is lowest.Which means Lowest energy.Lowest energy transition occurs when there is a transition from the nearby higher energy level to the respective energy level of the given series.