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The energy required to ionize a hydrogen-like ion in its ground state is 9 Rydbergs. What is the wavelength of the radiation emitted when the electron in this ion jumps from the second excited state to the ground state?

(a) Shorter than the initial wavelength
(b) Longer than the initial wavelength
(c) Equal to the initial wavelength
(d) Dependent on the specific energy levels involved

User Johanson
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

The wavelength of the radiation emitted when an electron in a hydrogen-like ion jumps from the second excited state to the ground state can be calculated using the Rydberg formula for hydrogen-like ions, considering the energy difference between the two states. The atomic number of the ion is needed for the exact calculation.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question is asking to calculate the wavelength of the radiation emitted when the electron in a hydrogen-like ion jumps from the second excited state to the ground state given that the energy needed to ionize the ion in its ground state is 9 Rydbergs. Using the Rydberg formula for hydrogen-like ions and the given ionization energy, the wavelength can be calculated using the energy difference between the initial (n=3 for second excited state) and final state (n=1 for ground state).

The energy levels of hydrogen-like ions are given by En = -Z2R∞/n2, where Z is the atomic number, R∞ is the Rydberg constant for hydrogen (13.6 eV), and n is the principal quantum number.


The energy difference ΔE between the ground state and the second excited state (ΔE = E1 - E3), multiplied by the Planck's constant (h) and the speed of light (c), gives the photon energy. The wavelength (λ) is then found by λ = hc/ΔE. Be aware that the specific atomic number (Z) of the ion is needed to calculate the actual wavelengths, but the concept remains the same.

User InvisibleBacon
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