Question

Explore the Balmer series of atomic transitions for a hydrogen atom. Assume the shortest wavelength possible occurs when the atom is ionized or when n = ∞ . What is the longest and shortest wavelengths possible?
What is the frequency, wavelength and energy of the longest wavelength?
longest λ = ___________ nm

frequency = _________ Hz

energy = _________ eV

Shortest λ = ___________ nm

Answer 1

Energy of electron of hydrogen atom in nth state is given by E = .

For balmer , the ground state is n = 2, so energy at n = 2 is ,

.

wavelength occurs for transition between ground state n = 2 to n = n, is given by

[ R = Rydberg's constant]

shortest wavelength occurs when transition is from n = 2 to n = :

=>

=> [answer]

longest wavelength occurs when transition is from n = 2 to n = 3 :

=>

=> [answer]

frequency of longest wavelength = [answer]

Energy of Longest Wavelength = [answer]