Question

The only line emissions detectable by the human eye for hydrogen correspond to transitions for electrons dropping from higher energy levels down to n=2.

Options:
A) Only hydrogen emits visible light.
B) Hydrogen emits visible light when electrons move from lower energy levels to higher energy levels.
C) Only transitions to n=2 result in visible light emission for hydrogen.
D) Electrons in hydrogen can only move to higher energy levels.

Answer 1

The visible light emission in hydrogen detected by the human eye corresponds to electron transitions in the Balmer series, where electrons fall from higher energy levels to the second energy level (n=2), resulting in the emission of visible light.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question addresses which transitions of an electron in a hydrogen atom are detectable by the human eye as visible light. The correct option from the provided choices is C) Only transitions to n=2 result in visible light emission for hydrogen. This phenomenon is specifically described by the Balmer series transitions, where an electron falls from a higher energy level with n ≥ 3 to the second energy level, n=2. When this transition occurs, the electron emits a photon of light whose energy corresponds to the difference between these levels, resulting in the emission of visible light. Light emissions occur because as the gases heat up, the electrons within the hydrogen atoms become excited to high energy levels, and as they fall back to lower energies, such as to n=2, they emit light of specific colors.