Drakkith said:Do you mean a longer wavelength, or a higher frequency? A "higher wavelength" doesn't make sense.
In any case, an electron can exist above the ground state, absorb a photon, and then fall to a lower state than what it was occupying emitting a photon of higher frequency than what it absorbed in the process.
MathewsMD said:Isn't a higher wavelength proportional to lower energy? How would it emit a higher energy photon (i.e. higher frequency) than what it absorbed?
So to confirm, a photon can still be emitted despite the electron not decaying to its ground state, just any state lower than its excited state, correct?
The ground state refers to the lowest energy state that an atom or molecule can be in. In this state, all of the electrons are in their lowest possible energy levels.
The ground state is determined by the electron configuration of an atom or molecule. This configuration is based on the number of electrons and their arrangement in the various energy levels.
No, an atom or molecule can only have one ground state. This is because the ground state is the lowest energy state possible, and there can only be one lowest energy state.
The ground state is significant because it is the starting point for understanding the behavior and properties of atoms and molecules. It also helps in predicting the chemical reactivity and stability of a substance.
Yes, the ground state can be changed by providing energy to the atom or molecule. This causes the electrons to move to higher energy levels, resulting in a new ground state.