Question

The difference in energy between the n=1 and the n=2 energy levels of a hydrogen atom is 1.64 x 10-18 J. What happens when an electron transitions from n =2 to n =1?

a) Exactly 1.64 x 10-18 J of energy is released.
b) Exactly 1.64 x 10-18 J of energy is absorbed.
c) An amount of energy equal to or greater than 1.64 x 10-18 J is released.
d) An amount of energy equal to or greater than 1.64 x 10-18 J is absorbed.

Answer 1

When an electron in a hydrogen atom transitions from the n=2 level to the n=1 level, exactly 1.64 x 10^-18 J of energy is released, corresponding to the emission of a photon with that energy.

Step-by-step explanation:

When an electron transitions from the n=2 energy level to the n=1 energy level in a hydrogen atom, an amount of energy is released. This is due to the electron moving from a higher energy state to a lower energy state, which results in the emission of a photon. The energy of this photon matches the energy difference between these two states.

Given that the energy difference between the n=1 and n=2 levels is 1.64 x 10-18 J, when an electron transitions from n=2 to n=1, exactly 1.64 x 10-18 J of energy is released. Therefore, the correct answer to what happens when an electron transitions from n=2 to n=1 is a) Exactly 1.64 x 10-18 J of energy is released.