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According to the Bohr theory of the hydrogen atom, what is the minimum energy (in J) needed to

ionize a hydrogen atom from the n = 2 state?

2 Answers

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According to the Bohr theory, the energy required to ionize a hydrogen atom from the n = 2 state can be calculated using the formula:

E = (-13.6 eV) * (Z^2/n^2)

where E is the energy, Z is the atomic number (which is 1 for hydrogen), and n is the principal quantum number of the initial state.

To ionize the hydrogen atom from the n = 2 state, it needs to be excited to the ionization state (n = infinity). Therefore, the final value of n is infinity.

Substituting these values into the formula, we get:

E = (-13.6 eV) * (1^2/2^2 - 1/infinity^2)

E = (-13.6 eV) * (1/4 - 0)

E = (-13.6 eV) * (1/4)

E = -3.4 eV

To convert eV to Joules, we can use the conversion factor 1 eV = 1.602 x 10^-19 J. Therefore,

E = (-3.4 eV) * (1.602 x 10^-19 J/eV)

E = -5.446 x 10^-19 J

However, this energy value is negative because the electron is bound to the atom and the energy required to remove it is equivalent to the energy that is released when it is bound to the atom. So, the absolute value of this energy is the minimum energy required to ionize a hydrogen atom from the n = 2 state:

|E| = 5.446 x 10^-19 J

Therefore, the minimum energy required to ionize a hydrogen atom from the n = 2 state according to the Bohr theory is approximately 5.446 x 10^-19 J.

User Zeeshan Shabbir
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Final answer:

The minimum energy needed to ionize a hydrogen atom from the n=2 state according to the Bohr theory is 2.7234 x 10^-18 J.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to the Bohr theory of the hydrogen atom, the energy levels of an electron are quantized and can be calculated using the formula En = -13.6 eV / n2, where n is the principal quantum number representing the electron's energy level. To ionize a hydrogen atom means to completely remove an electron from the atom, which is in the n=2 state in this case. The energy of the n=2 state is E2 = -13.6 eV / 22 = -3.4 eV. Since the energy required to ionize a hydrogen atom from its ground state (n=1) is 13.6 eV, we need to calculate the difference in energy between the two states to find the minimum energy needed for ionization from n=2.

The ground state energy is E1 = -13.6 eV and the n=2 energy is E2 = -3.4 eV. Therefore, the minimum energy required to ionize the atom from n=2 is the difference between these energy levels, which in electron volts would be 13.6 eV - (-3.4 eV) = 17 eV. To convert this energy into joules, we use the conversion factor 1 eV = 1.602 x 10-19 J. Hence, the minimum energy in joules is 17 eV × 1.602 x 10-19 J/eV = 2.7234 x 10-18 J.

User Graeme Job
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