Can light excite an electron from ground state to a higher state?

[kjamha]

can "light" excite an electron from ground state to a higher state?

An electron of a particular atom can absorb a discrete amount of energy, leap to a new quantum level, and then jump back down to lower states (emitting photons). My understanding is that going from n=2 to the ground state a photon with a frequency of UV or greater will be emitted. Several textbooks state that electrons can absorb "light" and jump to a higher state. Is it possible for an electron to jump to a higher state (from the ground state) by absorbing visible light?

 

[Ken G]

Is it possible for a photon to jump to a higher state (from the ground state) by absorbing visible light?

Not in isolated hydrogen atoms, but in other kinds of atoms, yes.

 

[SidBala]

There is no difference between UV and visible light except for their wavelengths. I suspect your textbooks mean EM radiation when they mention "light" and not specifically visible light.

 

[my_wan]

Is it possible for a photon to jump to a higher state (from the ground state) by absorbing visible light?

Wait, was that question meant to ask about 'photons' or 'electrons' in a ground state jumping to higher states?

 

[kjamha]

my_wan, I meant electron - Thanks

 

[my_wan]

Cool. Yes visible light can also be absorbed. What wavelengths an atom can be absorbed depends on the bandgaps between available and used electron 'orbitals' to appropriately or not imply a quasi-classical picture. The colors of objects are defined by the colors that are not absorbed.

 

[jtbell]

going from n=1 to the ground state

n=1 is the ground state.

 

[kjamha]

thank you jtbell!