Chapter 3, Problem 3.45QP

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The energy difference between the two energy levels involved in the emission that result in the first spectral line of the Balmer series which occurs at a wavelength of $\text{656}\text{.3 nm}$ should be calculated using the concept of Bohr’s theory.

Concept Introduction:

The emission of radiation given by an energized hydrogen atom to the electron falling from a higher-energy orbit to a lower orbit give a quantum of energy in the form of light.  Based on electrostatic interaction and law of motion, Bohr derived the following equation.

${\text{E}}_{\text{n}}=-\text{2}{\text{.18 × 10}}^{-\text{18}}\text{ J }\left(\frac{\text{1}}{{\text{n}}^{\text{2}}}\right)$

Where, $\text{n}$ gets an integer values such as $\text{n }=\text{ 1, 2, 3}$ and so on.  This is the energy of electron in ${\text{n}}^{\text{th}}$ orbital.

The electrons are excited thermally when the light is used by an object.  As a result, an emission spectrum comes.  Line spectra consist of light only at specific, discrete wavelengths.  In emission, the electron returns to a lower energy state from ${\text{n}}_{\text{f}}$ (the $\text{i and f}$ subscripts denote the initial and final energy states).  In most cases, the lower energy state corresponds to the ground state but it may be any energy state which is lower than the initial excited state.  The difference in the energies between the initial and final states is

$\text{ΔE }={\text{ E}}_{\text{f}}-{\text{ E}}_{\text{i}}$

This transition results in the photon’s emission with frequency $\text{v}$ and energy $\text{hv}$.  The following equation is resulted.

$\text{ΔE }=\text{ hν }=-\text{2}{\text{.18 × 10}}^{-\text{18}}\text{ J }\left(\frac{\text{1}}{{\text{n}}_{\text{f}}{}^{\text{2}}}-\frac{\text{1}}{{\text{n}}_{\text{i}}{}^{\text{2}}}\right)$

When, ${\text{n}}_{\text{i}}{\text{ > n}}_{\text{f}}$, a photon is emitted.  The term in parentheses is positive, making $\text{ΔE}$ negative.  As a result, energy is lost to the surroundings.  When ${\text{n}}_{\text{i}}{\text{ < n}}_{\text{f}}$, a photon is absorbed.  The term in parentheses is negative, so $\text{ΔE}$ is positive.  As a result, energy is absorbed from the surroundings.

To find: Calculate the energy difference between the two energy levels involved in the emission that result in the first spectral line of the Balmer series which occurs at a wavelength of $\text{656}\text{.3 nm}$