Question

Which of the following is true about the Rydberg equation of n²?

a) It relates the wavelength of a spectral line to its energy.
b) It indicates the quantization of energy levels of a hydrogen atom.
c) It uses Planck's constant to describe spectral lines.
d) It describes the photoelectric effect.
e) It uses spectral lines to alter hydrogen energy levels.

Answer 1

The true statement about the Rydberg equation is that it signifies the quantization of energy levels in a hydrogen atom, correlating with the Bohr model and predicting spectral line wavelengths in the hydrogen emission spectrum.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct answer to the question "Which of the following is true about the Rydberg equation of n²?" is (b) It indicates the quantization of energy levels of a hydrogen atom. The Rydberg equation is closely related to the Bohr model of the hydrogen atom, which introduced the concept of quantized energy levels proportional to 1/n² where n is a non-negative integer. This quantization is evident as electrons transition between energy levels, with a higher initial level (ni) than the final level (nf), emitting or absorbing energy in the form of photons. The Rydberg equation predicted the wavelengths of these transitions in the hydrogen emission spectrum, including those in the ultraviolet (Lyman series, nf = 1) and visible (Balmer series, nf = 2) ranges.