Answer to Question #22913 in Physical Chemistry for Erika

Question

1st energy level= -5 * 10^-18 J
2nd energy level= -6 * 10^-19 J
3rd energy level= -2 * 10^-19 J

A photon with energy = 4.4 * 10^-18 J interacts with the atom. What might happen as a result?

1. none
2. transit from 2nd to 3rd
3. transit from 1st to 2nd
4. transit from 1st to 3rd

Answer 1

Because deltaE of 2 levels must be less then energy of photon :

-5 * 10^-18 J + 4.4 * 10^-18 J = -6 * 10^-19 J

it means that photon have enough energy for transit from 1st to 2nd