Question

Electrons farther away from the nucleus in an atom have:

A) higher energy
B) higher or lower energy, depending on the element
C) the same energy
D) lower energy

Answer 1

Electrons farther away from the nucleus in an atom have higher energy because the energy required to overcome the attraction of the positively charged nucleus increases with distance.

Step-by-step explanation:

Electrons farther away from the nucleus in an atom have higher energy. This is because there is an increase in the energy needed to hold an electron away from the positive charge of the nucleus. An electron’s energy will increase the further it is away from the nucleus due to the attractive forces between the positive charges of the protons and the negative charges of the electrons.

In accordance with the Bohr model, as you go farther from the nucleus, electrons in higher energy levels possess more energy, and this energy increases in a fixed, discrete amount. It requires energy for an electron to move away from the nucleus and occupy these higher energy levels. When an electron jumps to a higher energy level, it has absorbed energy, and when it falls back to a lower energy level, it releases energy, often as light.

Therefore, the correct answer to the student's question is A) higher energy.