# Number of energy levels

## Main Question or Discussion Point

Number of energy levels....

I have been told that as were go further away from the nucleus, the energy levels get closer and closer together - do we get to a stage where we get no more? I assume we must because any energy above this causes the substance to ionise (ie the ionisation energy); but are there an infinate number of energy levels before this or some discrete number of them?

I have been told that the way that the levels get closer and closer together is governed by some equation - what I guess I'm asking boils down to is is this an infinate geometric progression with the levels getting closer and closer for infinity (ie - an infinate number of levels), or do we get to a point where an equation would just give the same answer - there are no more levels which exist?

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dextercioby
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Cheman said:
I have been told that as were go further away from the nucleus, the energy levels get closer and closer together
Yes,that's a physical consequence of Bohr's model/postulates.

Cheman said:
- do we get to a stage where we get no more?
I

As soon as u go past zero,yes,the electron is free,adieu to quantization.

Cheman said:
but are there an infinate number of energy levels before this
Sure,the discrete spectrum contains an infinite # of energy levels.

Cheman said:
I have been told that the way that the levels get closer and closer together is governed by some equation
Yes.This equation
$$E_{n}=\frac{E_{1}}{n^{2}}$$

Cheman said:
- what I guess I'm asking boils down to is is this an infinate geometric progression with the levels getting closer and closer for infinity (ie - an infinate number of levels), or do we get to a point where an equation would just give the same answer - there are no more levels which exist?
I've given u the equation,see what it boils down to...

Daniel.

Thanks. Please could someone elaborate further?

dextercioby