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The Balmer series for the hydrogen atom corresponds to electronic transitions th

ID: 1308008 • Letter: T

Question

The Balmer series for the hydrogen atom corresponds to electronic transitions that terminate in the state with quantum number n = 2 as shown in the figure below.

Consider the photon of longest wavelength corresponding to a transition shown in the figure. (a) Determine its energy. eV (b) Determine its wavelength. nm Consider the spectral line of shortest wavelength corresponding to a transition shown in the figure. (c) Find its photon energy. eV (d) Find its wavelength. nm (e) What is the shortest possible wavelength in the Balmer series? nm

Explanation / Answer

a) biggest wavelength means smallest energy

so -1.512+3.401=1.889 eV

b) lambda = 1240/1.889=656.4 nm

c) now biggest energy

so 3.401 -0.378=3.023

d) wavelength = 1240/3.023=410.2 nm

e) wavelength = 1240/3.401=364.6 nm