Exciting an electron in a hydrogen atom.

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

A hydrogen atom in its ground state cannot be excited by a photon with a wavelength of 96.7 nm, as the energy of the photon is calculated to be approximately 12.83 eV, which is below the required 13.6 eV to transition the electron to a higher energy state. The energy of the absorbed photon is insufficient to overcome the ionization energy of the hydrogen atom. If excitation were to occur, the emitted photon would have a longer wavelength and lower energy than the absorbed photon.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of photon energy calculations using the equation E=hc/lambda
  • Familiarity with energy levels in hydrogen atoms, specifically En=-13.6eV/n^2
  • Knowledge of electron excitation and ionization energy concepts
  • Basic conversion between joules and electron volts
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the concept of ionization energy in hydrogen and other elements
  • Learn about the Balmer series and photon emission in hydrogen
  • Explore the implications of photon absorption and emission on atomic transitions
  • Investigate the relationship between wavelength and energy in electromagnetic radiation
USEFUL FOR

Students studying quantum mechanics, physicists interested in atomic structure, and educators teaching concepts of photon interactions with matter.

weston_sagle
Messages
5
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


A hydrogen atom in its ground state is illuminated with light having a wavelength of 96.7 nm. can the hydrogen atom's electron be excited to a higher energy state by absorbing one of these photons? If so, determine the state and wavelength of any photon that would be emitted by the atom.


Homework Equations


E=hc/lambda
En=-13.6eV/n^2

The Attempt at a Solution


E=hc/lambda
=[(6.626x10^-34)(3.0x10^8)/9.67x10-8]
=2.0556x10^18 J

Convert to / by 1.602x10^-19 eV = 12.83eV

En=-13.6eV/1^2 = -13.6eV

So I think that the photon energy would have to exceed 13.6eV to excite the electron, so in this case it would not excite it. Is this right?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
If it did excite the electron, would the wavelength of the photon emitted be longer or shorter than the one absorbed? Would the energy of the emitted photon be greater or less than that of the absorbed photon?
 

Similar threads

Replies
3
Views
2K
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Replies
41
Views
3K
  • · Replies 22 ·
Replies
22
Views
4K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
Replies
1
Views
2K