Question

Electrons cannot be between energy levels, but absorb or release just enough energy to jump (or drop) to another level.

a. above; gain
b. below; absorb
c. within; emit
d. around; maintai

Answer 1

Electrons in an atom move between fixed energy levels by absorbing or emitting precise amounts of energy, never existing between levels. The change involves transferring energy to or from an external source, respecting the law of conservation of energy.

Step-by-step explanation:

Electrons in atoms exist on discrete energy levels, not in between, due to the quantization of energy in the Bohr model of the atom. These energy levels are labeled with a principal quantum number, and each jump between levels involves a fixed and definite energy change. An electron can absorb energy to move to a higher level or emit energy as a photon when it falls to a lower level. The atom's ground state refers to all electrons being in the lowest available energy levels. When an electron transitions to a higher energy orbit, the atom enters an excited state and requires an external energy source, such as the absorption of a photon.

In summary, an electron cannot be 'between' energy levels; when it jumps to a higher energy level, it must absorb energy, and when it drops to a lower level, it must emit energy. This process demonstrates the law of conservation of energy, where energy is neither created nor destroyed but is transferred between different states.