Photon Emission and Energy Levels

[Sheepwall]

Hello, I was trying to solve a problem in my course book, and I noticed I don't really understand energy levels completely. My ignorance covers more than one specific problem, so I figured I'd ask a general question, rather than post the problem.

The Rydberg formula: $\frac{hc}{λ}=hcR(\frac{1}{n_L^2}-\frac{1}{n_U^2})$.
Total energies in Bohr model: $E_n=-\frac{hcR}{n^2}$.

Making the statement "energy required to ionize a specific atom is $E_i$," doesn't that mean "energy difference between levels $n \rightarrow \infty$ and $n=1$ is $E_i$?"

Thanks in advance!

 

[sk1105]

Not quite: an atom can be ionised from any initial energy level, not just n = 1. Other than that, your reasoning is correct.