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This doesn't really mean the electron has negative energy or energy less
than zero. It is merely a matter of convention and the way the energy
equation is written.
"Because it takes a minimum amount of energy, called the "ionization energy" to strip or ionize a bound electron from the Hydrogen atom, energy levels are usually referred to as being negative quantities. In both classical physics and quantum mechanics the absolute value of energy is irrelevant; only energy differences matter. It is convenient to say that when ionized the electron will have zero binding energy to the proton. With this convention, the different energy levels of a Hydrogen atom are given by the equation:
E = - E (z)/n^2
(notice that negative sign in the equation)
where E(z) = 13.6 eV (1 eV = 1.602×10-19 Joules) and n = 1,2,3… and so on so that the ground state has energy E1= -13.6 eV and the second energy level (the first excited state) has energy E2 = -13.6/4 eV = -3.4 eV."
Simple as that.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoThey are negative because they feel the attraction force of the nucleus and we take attraction as negative.The energy of the shell will be Zero which is the outermost shell and don't feel any attraction from the nucleus. This doesn't really mean the electron has negative energy or energy less
than zero. It is merely a matter of convention and the way the energy
equation is written.
"Because it takes a minimum amount of energy, called the "ionization energy" to strip or ionize a bound electron from the Hydrogen atom, energy levels are usually referred to as being negative quantities. In both classical physics and quantum mechanics the absolute value of energy is irrelevant; only energy differences matter. It is convenient to say that when ionized the electron will have zero binding energy to the proton. With this convention, the different energy levels of a Hydrogen atom are given by the equation:
E = - E (z)/n^2
(notice that negative sign in the equation)
where E(z) = 13.6 eV (1 eV = 1.602×10-19 Joules) and n = 1,2,3… and so on so that the ground state has energy E1= -13.6 eV and the second energy level (the first excited state) has energy E2 = -13.6/4 eV = -3.4 eV."
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Will the emission wavelength be greater or less in an atom when 2 energy levels are separate by 4863 angstroms?
Suppose the atoms in a receding cloud have two energy levels separated by an energy corresponding o 4863 Angstroms. The observer will see emissiom at a greater or less wavelength.
How can there be 1 proton with a hydrogen atom with a mass?
Protons and electrons both have mass. Therefore a hydrogen atom that contains one or both will have mass. (It will, however, be less massive than a hydrogen atom that also has neutrons.)
Does a hydrogen atom expand or contract as it moves from its ground state to an excited state?
i think it contracts because in excited state, electron have more energy and less pull.
What can you infer about helium from the fact that it is made by a nuclear fusion reaction inside the sun?
That the mass of a helium nucleus is larger than the mass of the hydrogen nucleus. Also, since the star uses this process to produce energy, that the helium atom has less energy than the original hydrogen atoms - and therefore also less mass.
Is the total mass after fusion greater or less than before fusion?
The total mass is less after a fusion reaction. Some of the mass is converted into energy and given off due to the nuclear fusion reaction. For example. 2 atoms of hydrogen are fused to become 1 atom of helium. However, the helium atom will have less mass than the combined mass of the 2 original hydrogen atoms. The excess mass is lost via the energy given off from the nuclear fusion reaction.
How many electrons are needed in the outer energy levels for the atom to be stable?
Stability isn't determined by the first energy level. The only atom with less than two is hydrogen. It is a very stable atom...reactive in that it will attach to anything, but it will always be hydrogen. The atoms that readily decay (the radioactive ones) all have full first orbitals.
Why does hydrogen have the simplest bright light spectrum?
Because the bright line spectrum is generated by the transition of electrons in the atom among higher and lower energy levels, and no other atom of any other element has less than one electron in it.
Will kilogram of hydrogen contain more atoms then kilogram of lead?
Yes, because each hydrogen atom has less mass than each lead atom.Yes, because each hydrogen atom has less mass than each lead atom.Yes, because each hydrogen atom has less mass than each lead atom.Yes, because each hydrogen atom has less mass than each lead atom.
Where is shielding the lowest on the periodic table?
The higher you are on the periodic table, the less energy levels of electrons there are in each atom, and therefore the less nuclear shielding.
Will the emission wavelength be greater or less in an atom when 2 energy levels are separate by 4863 angstroms?
Suppose the atoms in a receding cloud have two energy levels separated by an energy corresponding o 4863 Angstroms. The observer will see emissiom at a greater or less wavelength.
How do you explain the diagram that shows 4 energy levels of hydrogen - 1 at the bottom 4 at the top - the values are n4-0.85eV n3-1.51eV n2-3.4eV n1-13.6eV?
The diagram shows the ionization energies of hydrogen. The ionization energy for a ground-state electron in hydrogen is 13.6eV. Let's jump. An electron orbits an atom of hydrogen in as low an energy level as possible. That's the ground state of hydrogen. To tear that electron away, it takes some amount of energy. In this case, it takes 13.6eV to strip off that electron. But what if the electron is in the next higher allowable energy level because the gas it hot? In that case, it takes less energy to tear that electron away because you've got a "head start" owing to the fact that the electron is in a higher orbital than the ground state. And what if it's in the next higher allowable energy level? Or the next? Less and less energy is required to strip off the electron as it moves to higher energy levels. These are the ionization energies of hydrogen. These energy levels are specific to hydrogen. Each other element will have a different set if ionization energies associated with it. And with atoms with many electrons and complex electron structures, the problem can quickly become very complex.
How can there be 1 proton with a hydrogen atom with a mass?
Protons and electrons both have mass. Therefore a hydrogen atom that contains one or both will have mass. (It will, however, be less massive than a hydrogen atom that also has neutrons.)
Does a hydrogen atom expand or contract as it moves from its ground state to an excited state?
i think it contracts because in excited state, electron have more energy and less pull.
How the wavelengths of light emitted by an atom provide information about electron energy levels?
First, calculate the energy of the photon by using the wave length and then see which the energy differences between electon levels. If it is equal, then it is the right transition The energy of a photon is proportional to its frequency
What can you infer about helium from the fact that it is made by nuclear fusion reactions inside the sun?
That the mass of a helium nucleus is larger than the mass of the hydrogen nucleus. Also, since the star uses this process to produce energy, that the helium atom has less energy than the original hydrogen atoms - and therefore also less mass.
What can you infer about helium from the fact that it is made by a nuclear fusion reaction inside the sun?
That the mass of a helium nucleus is larger than the mass of the hydrogen nucleus. Also, since the star uses this process to produce energy, that the helium atom has less energy than the original hydrogen atoms - and therefore also less mass.
What can you infer about helium from the fact that it's made by nuclear fusion reactions inside the sun?
That the mass of a helium nucleus is larger than the mass of the hydrogen nucleus. Also, since the star uses this process to produce energy, that the helium atom has less energy than the original hydrogen atoms - and therefore also less mass.
