Question

The diagram gives some of the energy levels of a hydrogen atoms. The transition of an excited hydrogen atoms from E3 to E1 causes a photon of visible light to be emitted. Which transition causes a photon of ultraviolet light to be emitted

Answer 1

a transition from a E1 to E0 would cause a photon of ultraviolet light to be emitted. Option D.

In the hydrogen atom, the energy of emitted photons corresponds to the difference in energy levels between the initial and final states of the electron. The greater the difference in energy levels, the higher the energy of the emitted photon, and the shorter its wavelength.

Ultraviolet light has a shorter wavelength (and therefore higher energy) than visible light. Therefore, a transition that results in the emission of ultraviolet light must involve a larger energy change than the transition from E3 to E1.

In the hydrogen atom, the energy levels get closer together as they increase in value. Therefore, a transition from a higher energy level to E1 would involve a larger energy change than a transition from E3 to E1.

So, a transition from E1 to E0 would likely cause a photon of ultraviolet light to be emitted.