# Homework Help: What is the value of ni for an electron

1. Apr 10, 2017

### cindy1234

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

what is the value of ni for an electron that emits a photon of wavelength 93.14 nm when it returns to the ground state in the hydrogen atom

2. Relevant equations

planck's constant 6.63 x 10^-34
3. The attempt at a solution
no idea

2. Apr 10, 2017

### Staff: Mentor

Hi cindy1234,

You need to provide some attempt before help can be given. Start by looking though your course notes and text to find relevant equations pertaining to hydrogen emission lines, wavelength and energy, and so forth.

3. Apr 10, 2017

### cindy1234

this is as far as i can get still don't get some of this

change 93.14 nm to meters
93.14 x 1 x 10^-9 = 9.314 x 10^-8

9.314 x 10^-8 = 1.097 x 10^7 rydberg constant

1 - 1 / n exponent 2 subscript 2 = 0.9787 (how did they get this)

4. Apr 10, 2017

### Staff: Mentor

There's a particular formula that applies here that should be in your notes or text. It's probably in the chapter that introduces quantum theory as it pertains to atoms and light emission/absorption. Hint: the constant that you named above is used in the formula of the same name.

5. Apr 10, 2017

### cindy1234

chemistry text - has only one example of an electron transition - that is calculate the wavelength in nm of the photon emitted when an electron transitions from the n = 4 state to the n = 2 state in a hydrogen atom - which i can do but i don't know how to change this to get the n subscript i

tried changing to m and 1 / 9.314 x 10^-8 and get 1.074 x 10^7 as an answer

found the following on the internet
wavelength = 430 nm
find n i
(1/n 1 ^2 - 1 / n 2 ^2) = 2325581 / (1.09677581 x 10^7)
(1/2^2 - 1/n2^2) = 0.212038
1/n2^2 = 0.25 - 0.212038
n2^2 = 26.342 (only part i don't understand) (only need help with this part)
n^2 = 5 (square root)

Last edited: Apr 10, 2017
6. Apr 10, 2017

### Staff: Mentor

Concentrate on finding the value for the $n_i$ rather than its subscript. You know the sequence of integers that the n's are drawn from, so you can later match the value of n to a subscript.
They started with the Rydberg formula (which your chemistry text should have). Your problem statement states that the electron transitions to the ground state, giving you one of the n values. The other n value is then the unknown that you're looking for.

Note that you can use the x2 and x2 buttons in the edit window top bar menu to create subscripts and superscripts for your formulas.

7. Apr 10, 2017

### Staff: Mentor

Both sides were inverted:

(1/n2^2)-1 = (0.25 - 0.212038)-1
n2^2 = (0.037962)-1
n2^2 = 26.342
n2 = √26.342
n2 ≈ 5