How do electrons behave when energy is added to an atom's ground state?

[Arup Biswas]

Yah electrons existing the lowest possible energy state! Now suppose, we throw a beam of light towards a ground state of a atom. I heard/know electrons will take up energy from the photon "hv", and go to the next energy level i.e. excited state. Now my point is, is it only the valance electron that can take up that energy? why and how the other electrons behave? (I may explain that in the comments later if u did not get what i said)

 

[Dale]

Now my point is, is it only the valance electron that can take up that energy? why and how the other electrons behave?

Other (inner) electrons can certainly be excited. This is important in understanding how x-rays interact with matter

http://www.kayelaby.npl.co.uk/atomic_and_nuclear_physics/4_2/4_2_1.html

 

[Preston Leggett]

Ground state is that state at which the energy of the electrons can not be lowered.