Question

When an electron is at the energy level with 0 J present in the atom, why does it have 0 J?

a) Electrons cannot have zero energy.
b) At that energy level, the electron is stationary and has no kinetic energy.
c) The electron is in an excited state.
d) The atom has a unique property that prevents energy at that level.

Answer 1

Electrons in atoms have discrete energy levels, and the ground state is the lowest energy level. When an electron is in an energy level with 0 J, it is in the ground state. Excitation can occur when electrons receive external energy, causing them to move to higher energy levels. The energy difference between excited and ground states is emitted as a photon.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the Bohr model of the atom, electrons can only exist on discrete energy levels and not between them. These energy levels are labeled with a principal quantum number, denoted by the symbol n. Electrons in atoms have the lowest energy possible in what is called the ground state, typically observed when they are in the innermost orbit. If an electron receives energy from an external source, it can move to an orbit with a higher n value, putting it in an excited state with higher energy. When an electron transitions from an excited state to a less excited or ground state, the energy difference is emitted as a photon.