The electron from a hydrogen atom drops from an excited state into the ground state. When an electron drops into a lower-energy orbital, energy is released in the form of electromagnetic radiation.

Part A: How much energy does the electron have initially in the n=4 excited state?

answer I got = -1.36*10^-19 J

Part B: If the electron from Part A now drops to the ground state, how much energy is released?
Enter your answer numerically in joules.

answer= delta E= _____J

what equation should I use for to answer Part B & how do I plug in to get the correct answer?

User Icon for DrBob222 DrBob222 answered
16 years ago

How did you get the energy for N = 4? Use the same equation but plug in 1 for N = 1 (that's the ground state). Now subtract the energy in the two states to get the amount (the difference) relesed when the electron falls from n = 4 to n = 1.

User Icon for K K answered
16 years ago

I used: E = -(Rhc)/n^2

R= 1.097*10^7 m^-1
h= 6.6261*10^-34 J s
c= 3.00*10^8 m s^-1

E= -(1.097*10^7)(6.6261*10^-34)(3.00*10^8)/16

E= -1.36*10^-19 J

so I just use final minus initial? How so?
when I do the same as above...but put in 1squared=1, rather than 4squared=16..
I get: -2.18064951*10^-18

then should the answer be: -2.18065*10^-18 - -1.36*10^-19? = -2.04*10^-18??

User Icon for K K answered
16 years ago

guess it was correct... the real answer, rounded though, came to be: -2.05*10^-18J

thank you.

User Icon for DrBob222 DrBob222 answered
16 years ago

Using 2.180 x 10^-18 I found 2.044 x 10^-18 J for the difference in energy levels.

User Icon for john john answered
16 years ago

A microwave oven operates at 2.40 . What is the wavelength of the radiation produced by this appliance?

User Icon for Rita Rita answered
15 years ago

.125m or 125000000nm

User Icon for Ramiz Ramiz answered
14 years ago

Energy is an absolute value, the answer should be 2.05*10^-18J, instead of -2.05*10^-18J.

User Icon for sam sam answered
14 years ago

What is the wavelength lambda of the photon that has been released in Part B?

User Icon for ZAR ZAR answered
13 years ago

E=hc/Lambda

2.05*10^-18=(6.63*10^-34)(3.00*10^8)/x
x=9.72*10^-8 meters

User Icon for jackline jackline answered
4 years ago

c is used for sun tan