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Consider a transition of the electron in the hydrogen atom from \(n=4\) to \(n=9\). (a) Is \(\Delta E\) for this process positive or negative? (b) Determine the wavelength of light that is associated with this transition. Will the light be absorbed or emitted? (c) In which portion of the electromagnetic spectrum is the light in part (b)?

Short Answer

Expert verified
(a) The energy change, \(\Delta E\), for the electron transition in the hydrogen atom is positive (0.68 eV). (b) The wavelength of light associated with this transition is \(182 nm\), and the light is absorbed during the transition. (c) The light belongs to the ultraviolet (UV) portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Step by step solution

01

(1) Calculate the energy change in the transition

First, we need to calculate the energy change in the electron transition. The energy change formula for the hydrogen atom is: \(\Delta E = -13.6 \frac{Z^2}{n^2} eV\) where \(Z\) is the atomic number (for hydrogen, \(Z=1\)), and \(n\) is the principal quantum number. The energy change for this transition is the difference between the energy levels at n=4 and n=9: \(\Delta E = E_{n=9} - E_{n=4}\) Now, we calculate the energy levels at n=4 and n=9: \(E_{n=4} = -13.6 \frac{1^2}{4^2} = -0.85 eV\) \(E_{n=9} = -13.6 \frac{1^2}{9^2} = -0.17 eV\) Now, we calculate the energy change: \(\Delta E = E_{n=9} - E_{n=4} = -0.17 - (-0.85) = 0.68 eV\)
02

(2) Determine if the energy change is positive or negative

The energy change, \(\Delta E\), is positive (0.68 eV). Therefore, the answer to part (a) is that the energy change is positive.
03

(3) Calculate the wavelength of light associated with this transition

To find the wavelength of light associated with this transition, we should first convert the energy change from electron volts (eV) to Joules (J). We know that 1 eV = \(1.6 \times 10{-19} J\), so: \(\Delta E = 0.68 eV \times 1.6 \times 10^{-19} \frac{J}{eV} = 1.09 \times 10^{-19} J\) Now, we will use the formula relating the energy of a photon to its wavelength: \(E = \frac{hc}{\lambda}\) where \(E\) is the energy of the photon, \(h\) is Planck's constant (\(6.63 \times 10^{-34} J \cdot s\)), \(c\) is the speed of light (\(3.00 \times 10^8 m/s\)), and \(\lambda\) is the wavelength of light. We want to find the wavelength, so we rearrange the formula for \(\lambda\): \(\lambda = \frac{hc}{E}\) Now, we plug in the values and calculate the wavelength: \(\lambda = \frac{6.63 \times 10^{-34} Js \cdot 3.00 \times 10^8 m/s}{1.09 \times 10^{-19} J} = 1.82 \times 10^{-7} m\)
04

(4) Determine if the light is absorbed or emitted

Since the energy change is positive (\(\Delta E > 0\)), the electron gains energy. Therefore, the light is absorbed during this transition.
05

(5) Identify the part of the electromagnetic spectrum

The wavelength we calculated is \(1.82 \times 10^{-7} m = 182 nm\), which falls in the ultraviolet (UV) region of the electromagnetic spectrum. To summarize: (a) The energy change, \(\Delta E\), is positive. (b) The wavelength of the light is \(182 nm\), and the light is absorbed. (c) The light belongs to the ultraviolet (UV) portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Energy Change in Electron Transitions
When we think about electron transitions in a hydrogen atom, we're discussing the movement of an electron between different orbits or energy levels around the nucleus. An easy way to visualize this is to imagine an electron jumping between steps of a ladder where each step is a particular energy level.

Each energy level in an atom is characterized by a specific amount of energy; hence, as electrons transition from one level to another, they either absorb or release energy, resulting in an energy change, denoted as \(\Delta E\). In our example, an electron transition from the 4th to the 9th energy level in a hydrogen atom will naturally involve an energy change.

Applying the formula \(\Delta E = -13.6 \frac{Z^2}{n^2} eV\), where \(Z\) is the atomic number of the hydrogen atom, we find that the energy change is positive, indicating that energy is absorbed to promote the electron to a higher energy level. This absorbed energy corresponds to the energy of the light that would induce this transition.
Wavelength of Light in Transitions
The wavelength of light is intimately connected to the energy transitions of electrons. According to the formula \(E = \frac{hc}{\lambda}\), where \(E\) stands for the energy of the photon, \(h\) is Planck's constant, \(c\) is the speed of light, and \(\lambda\) is the wavelength, we can see that when we know the energy involved in an electron transition, we can determine the wavelength of light associated with that transition.

In our exercise, the positive energy change of 0.68 eV is the key to finding the wavelength. First, we convert electron volts to Joules (since physics often prefers SI units), and then we rearrange our equation to solve for \(\lambda\). We find that the wavelength for this kind of transition is \(1.82 \times 10^{-7} m\), which means the light that would be absorbed in this process has a wavelength within this measure. It's quite spectacular to realize that each electron jump corresponds to a very specific color or kind of light!
Electromagnetic Spectrum Regions
The electromagnetic spectrum is a vast arena where all possible wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation reside. It's a whole spectrum of possibilities – from gamma rays, which have the shortest wavelengths, to radio waves, which stretch out to the longest wavelengths.

For our scenario, the wavelength of \(182 nm\) rests comfortably in the ultraviolet (UV) region of this spectrum. The UV region lies between visible light, which our eyes can detect, and X-rays, which are used in medical imaging. Understanding the regions of the electromagnetic spectrum not only helps us to categorize the type of radiation associated with electron transitions but also to appreciate the diverse applications and phenomena that are related to different types of electromagnetic waves. For example, while UV rays can be used to sterilize equipment, infrared radiation is notable for its use in thermal imaging.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Order the following transitions in the hydrogen atom from smallest to largest frequency of light absorbed: \(n=3\) to \(n=6, n=4\) to \(n=9, n=2\) to \(n=3\), and \(n=1\) to \(n=2\).

Titanium metal requires a photon with a minimum energy of $6.94 \times 10^{-19} \mathrm{J}$ to emit electrons. (a) What is the minimum frequency of light necessary to emit electrons from titanium via the photoelectric effect? (b) What is the wavelength of this light? (c) Is it possible to eject electrons from titanium via the photoelectric effect? (b) What is the wavelength of this light? (c) Is it possible to eject electrons from titanium metal using visible light? (d) If titanium is irradiated with light of wavelength \(233 \mathrm{nm},\) what is the madimum possible kinetic energy of the emitted electrons?

The visible emission lines observed by Balmer all involved \(n_{\mathrm{f}}=2\). (a) Which of the following is the best explanation of why the lines with \(n_{\mathrm{f}}=3\) are not observed in the visible portion of the spectrum: (i) Transitions to \(n_{\mathrm{f}}=3\) are not allowed to happen, (ii) transitions to \(n_{\mathrm{f}}=3\) emit photons in the infrared portion of the spectrum, (iii) transitions to \(n_{\mathrm{f}}=3\) emit photons in the ultraviolet portion of the spectrum, or (iv) transitions to \(n_{\mathrm{f}}=3\) emit photons that are at exactly the same wavelengths as those to \(n_{\mathrm{f}}=2\). (b) Calculate the wavelengths of the first three lines in the Balmer series-those for which \(n_{\mathrm{i}}=3,4\), and 5 -and identify these lines in the emission spectrum shown in Figure 6.11.

(a) What is the frequency of radiation whose wavelength is \(0.86 \mathrm{~nm}\) ? (b) What is the wavelength of radiation that has a frequency of \(6.4 \times 10^{11} \mathrm{~s}^{-1}\) ? (c) Would the radiations in part (a) or part (b) be detected by an X-ray detector? (d) What distance does electromagnetic radiation travel in \(0.38 \mathrm{ps}\) ?

Label each of the following statements as true or false. For those that are false, correct the statement. (a) Visible light is a form of electromagnetic radiation. (b) Ultraviolet light has longer wavelengths than visible light. (c) \(\mathrm{X}\) rays travel faster than microwaves. (d) Electromagnetic radiation and sound waves travel at the same speed.

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