when a hydrogen atom is raised from the ground state to an excited state
What happens when a hydrogen atom is raised from the ground state to an excited state?
Answer:
Introduce the Concept: When a hydrogen atom transitions from its ground state to an excited state, it involves an electron moving to a higher energy level. This process requires energy, which is typically absorbed from a photon.
Step 1: Understanding the Ground and Excited States
- Ground State: This is the lowest energy state of the hydrogen atom, where the electron occupies the closest possible orbit to the nucleus (1s orbital).
- Excited State: This refers to any energy level above the ground state, where the electron occupies orbitals farther from the nucleus (such as 2s, 2p, etc.).
Step 2: Energy Absorption and Electron Transition
- Energy Absorption: For the electron to move from the ground state to an excited state, the atom must absorb a photon with energy equal to the difference between the two energy levels.
- Electron Transition: The absorption of energy causes the electron to jump from its ground-state orbital to a higher-energy orbital.
Step 3: Consequences of Excitation
- Stability and Return to Ground State: The excited state is usually unstable. The electron tends to return to the ground state, releasing energy as light in a process called fluorescence or emission.
- Spectral Lines: The energy differences between levels correspond to specific wavelengths of light. This results in a characteristic emission (or absorption) spectrum for hydrogen, known as spectral lines.
Final Answer:
When a hydrogen atom is raised from the ground state to an excited state, an electron absorbs energy and moves to a higher energy orbital. This process is unstable, and the electron typically returns to the ground state, emitting energy as light. The transition between energy levels produces hydrogen’s unique spectral lines.