When the electron of a hydrogen atom moves into a higher energy orbit, what is the state of the atom?

Question

Levine

Chemistry

22 October, 22:36

When the electron of a hydrogen atom moves into a higher energy orbit, what is the state of the atom?

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Answers (1)

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Cristina Mitchell · Answer 1

Answer is: excited state.

In excited state, hydrogen has higher energy than in the ground state (state with lowest energy). H ydrogen atom has one electron in the lowest possible orbit (1s), when atom absorbs energy, the electron move into an excited state (quantum numbers greater than the minimum possible). Electron lifetime in excited state is short.