What happens when the electron moves from the first energy level to the second energy level?
Answer (1)
When an electron moves from the first energy level to the second energy level:
The electron absorbs energy.
The energy is absorbed in the form of a photon.
The photon's energy matches the energy difference between the levels.
The relationship between energy, frequency, and wavelength is given by E = h f = λ h c .
Explanation
Energy Absorption When an electron moves from the first energy level (n=1) to the second energy level (n=2), it transitions to a higher energy state. This requires the electron to gain energy.
Photon Absorption The electron absorbs energy in the form of a photon. The energy of the photon must be equal to the energy difference between the two energy levels.
Quantized Energy The energy difference between the two levels is a specific, quantized amount. This means the electron can only absorb a photon with exactly the right amount of energy to make the transition.
Energy, Frequency, and Wavelength The relationship between the energy (E) of the photon, its frequency (f), and its wavelength ( λ ) is given by the equation: E = h f = λ h c where:
h is Planck's constant,
c is the speed of light.
Examples
Consider an electron in a hydrogen atom transitioning from the n=1 to n=2 energy level. This process is fundamental in understanding atomic spectra. For example, when hydrogen gas is heated, the electrons absorb energy and jump to higher energy levels. When these electrons return to lower energy levels, they emit photons of specific wavelengths, creating the characteristic emission spectrum of hydrogen. This principle is used in various applications, such as spectral analysis to identify elements in stars or in chemical samples.
