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Suppose the wavelength in the formula developed by balmer was 410 nm. What is the value of n?.

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Answer:

The Balmer series is given by

1 / λ = R (1 / 2^2 - 1 / n^2)

where R is the Rydberg constant of 1.0968E-3 / Angstroms

(1 Angstrom = 1.0E-1 nm = 10E-10m)

Let x = (1 / 4 - 1 / n^2)

x = 1 / (R λ)

Note 410 nm = 4100 A

x = 1 / (1.0968E-3 * 4.1E3) = 1 / (1.0968 * 4.1) = .222

If we write

x = 1/4 - 1/n^2 = .222

1/n^2 = 1/4 - .222 = .0276

n^2 = 36.2

So n = 6

(Since modern terminology gives wavelengths in nanometers - it might be helpful to write R = 1.0968E7 m-1)