1. Sep 18, 2012 #1

   Johnahh

   

   Say a photon was absorbed by an electron at 1s in an oxygen atom but it only had enough energy to move it to another energy level that was already occupied such a 2s etc. What happens to this photon?

    

   Johnahh, Sep 18, 2012
2. 
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3. Sep 18, 2012 #2

   mfb

   

   Insights Author

   2016 Award

   Staff: Mentor

   The photon does not get absorbed if there is no available unoccupied energy level for the electron.

    

   mfb, Sep 18, 2012
4. Sep 19, 2012 #3

   Johnahh

   

   so how does the electron know that the photon does not have enough energy to move it to a free orbital?

    

   Johnahh, Sep 19, 2012
5. Sep 19, 2012 #4

   mfb

   

   Insights Author

   2016 Award

   Staff: Mentor

   Quantum mechanics. If a process is impossible, it just does not happen.

    

   mfb, Sep 19, 2012

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