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Yes, while nature will always try to place electrons in their lowest energy configuration, electrons can temporarily occupy higher energy states. When they fall back to the lowest energy state, the difference in energy is released as light - "a photon". Different colors of light reflect differing energy state jumps made by electrons.

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Q: Is there any other energy state aside from the lowest energy state for an electron?
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What is the difference between excited hydrogen atom and any other atom?

Hydrogen atom = 1 proton 1 electron Hydrogen's 1 electron occupies the lowest energy level, 1s orbital. The atom is therefore in its "ground state". When a photon of correct frequency "collides" with a electron in hydrogen's 1s orbital the energy contained in the photon is transferred to the electron. The electron then gets added energy, so it is at a higher energy state. When it reaches this higher energy state the electron jumps to the next energy level and there it starts its new orbit. Hydrogen atom is now "excited" For any other atoms it is the same thing because all atoms can undergo excitation. The only difference between hydrogen's 1 electron and other atom's many electrons is WHICH ELECTRON will be "excited"


When you say an electron is in its ground state what does that mean?

when something is in the ground^No. That is totally incorrect.Basically, a ground state electron is when the atom/element is not being surged through with heat or electricity. Basically, it's the atom's normal electron configuration. So NA [Sodium]'s ground state would be shown as : 1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s1.The opposite is when it's in it's excited state. You can remember tell when an atom is in it's excited state when in the electron configuration, there is a huge jump, like 1s2,2s2,2p5, 3s2. This might have happened due to being exposed to heat and or electricity.In other words, ground state=normal, excited is, well, excited. XD


What are the Three examples of properties that are quantized at the scale of an electron?

Electrical charge is quantized. (negative in an electron, as an electron has exactly -1 fundamental unit of charge) The other two would be the energy levels in the atoms and the emitted energy.


Which electron pair has the lowest electron electron repulsive forces?

Two bonding pairs of electrons repel each other the least. The order of electron electron repulsive forces is: lp-lp > bp-lp > bp-bp (bp = bonding pair) (lp = lone pair)


What is the potential energy of an electron?

The potential energy of the electron is different for every situation, and is a function of the attractive and repulsive forces of nearby positive and negative charges respectively (protons and other electrons). Finding the potential energy for an electron with more than one other particle nearby is extremely complicated!

Related questions

What is the difference between excited hydrogen atom and any other atom?

Hydrogen atom = 1 proton 1 electron Hydrogen's 1 electron occupies the lowest energy level, 1s orbital. The atom is therefore in its "ground state". When a photon of correct frequency "collides" with a electron in hydrogen's 1s orbital the energy contained in the photon is transferred to the electron. The electron then gets added energy, so it is at a higher energy state. When it reaches this higher energy state the electron jumps to the next energy level and there it starts its new orbit. Hydrogen atom is now "excited" For any other atoms it is the same thing because all atoms can undergo excitation. The only difference between hydrogen's 1 electron and other atom's many electrons is WHICH ELECTRON will be "excited"


What is the natural thing for the electron to do?

It is rather difficult to answer this question without some sort of context. However, in general terms, I would say that an electron will always occupy the lowest possible energy state. If one is considering a single atom, then an electron will always occupy the lowest energy orbital (for a full list of orbital energies see the Wikipedia article "electronic configuration"). However, if other atoms are present then the electron will not necessarily occupy the lowest energy orbital. For example, in the formation of sulfur hexafluoride electrons are promoted from the 3s and 3p sub shells to the 3d sub shell, whilst this does require energy, the energy released in bonding with fluorine more than compensates for this. I hope this answers your question


Why can't a massive star generate energy through iron fusion?

Iron is on the lowest energy level (for nuclear energy), or near it. Converting other elements to iron or nickel will produce energy; the other way round it costs energy.Iron is on the lowest energy level (for nuclear energy), or near it. Converting other elements to iron or nickel will produce energy; the other way round it costs energy.Iron is on the lowest energy level (for nuclear energy), or near it. Converting other elements to iron or nickel will produce energy; the other way round it costs energy.Iron is on the lowest energy level (for nuclear energy), or near it. Converting other elements to iron or nickel will produce energy; the other way round it costs energy.


When you say an electron is in its ground state what does that mean?

when something is in the ground^No. That is totally incorrect.Basically, a ground state electron is when the atom/element is not being surged through with heat or electricity. Basically, it's the atom's normal electron configuration. So NA [Sodium]'s ground state would be shown as : 1s2, 2s2, 2p6, 3s1.The opposite is when it's in it's excited state. You can remember tell when an atom is in it's excited state when in the electron configuration, there is a huge jump, like 1s2,2s2,2p5, 3s2. This might have happened due to being exposed to heat and or electricity.In other words, ground state=normal, excited is, well, excited. XD


When sunlight excites electrons how do the electrons change?

Depending on the energy (frequency) of the specific photon hitting the electron, one of three events happens: nothing, the electron is excited, or the electron leaves the atom. If the energy of the photon very high, the electron can absorb the energy and escape the nucleus' pull. This is called ionization. If the energy of the photon lines up with the energy spacing in the atoms energy levels, the electron will move to a higher energy state, becoming excited. The electron then returns to its original energy level, releasing the energy as light. If the energy of the photon does not fall into one of these categories, the electron does not interact with it. In terms of actually changing the electron, it only changes in energy, not any other property.


What are the Three examples of properties that are quantized at the scale of an electron?

Electrical charge is quantized. (negative in an electron, as an electron has exactly -1 fundamental unit of charge) The other two would be the energy levels in the atoms and the emitted energy.


Which electron pair has the lowest electron electron repulsive forces?

Two bonding pairs of electrons repel each other the least. The order of electron electron repulsive forces is: lp-lp > bp-lp > bp-bp (bp = bonding pair) (lp = lone pair)


What is the potential energy of an electron?

The potential energy of the electron is different for every situation, and is a function of the attractive and repulsive forces of nearby positive and negative charges respectively (protons and other electrons). Finding the potential energy for an electron with more than one other particle nearby is extremely complicated!


What is an electron in the outermost energy level of an atom?

An electron in the outermost energy level of an atom is called a valence electron.(We refer here to the outermost occupied levels of an atom. There are, of course, many other higher energy levels normally available that are not occupied.)These electrons determine the chemical reactivity of the atom.the valence electrons


What is auger effect?

When photons of sufficient energy are incident on a surface, an electron is ejected out from the core shell. The electron from the p-orbital or any other orbital of higher energy loses that much energy to fill up the gap created by the loss of this core electron. The energy lost by the p-orbital electron is absorbed by another electron in the same or higher shell, causing it to eject from the atom. This second atom is called the "Auger electron" and the effect is called Auger effect.


Is energy is always measured in joules?

Energy can be represented in other ways too. Ex. Volts, electron volts, calories


Is energy always measured in joules?

Energy can be represented in other ways too. Ex. Volts, electron volts, calories