How can an electron in an atom lose energy to go from a higher-energy level to a lower-energy level?

Answer 1

Electrons gain energy by interacting with the electromagnetic spectrum, such as through light. A photon will make contact with an electron and deliver a transfer of energy which can move it to a higher energy state (this is usually referred to as exciting an electron). Electrons move between their energy states in fixed steps. So, if one is in the lowest energy state (ground state) and is then excited by a photon, it will instantly move to the next highest energy state until it transfers this energy to something else or out of the system (if you are assuming an open system). In a closed system, the energy would be conserved and without any additional interaction, an excited electron will remain excited until it can transfer the energy to something else.

May need someone more adept at physics to elaborate.

Answer 2

Electrons are lazy. They don't want to do any more work than they have to. So, when they're in an atom, they're generally in the lowest possible energy level that they can occupy, called its "ground state," which translates roughly to doing the bare minimum amount of work to get by (I can relate!) But, when you apply some energy to that atom, the electron gets excited and jumps out to a higher energy level. In order to do this, the electron has to absorb some of that energy to get it out there. After a while, the electron decides it's tired of working that hard, and moves back to its ground state where it's supposed to be. At that point, the electron gives back that energy it absorbed in the form of a "photon," a bundle of light energy. Billions and billions of photons make a visible light of a certain wavelength that we can see. This is how neon lights work.

Answer 3

Due to rotation around atom energy is released and sometimes energy is absorbed

Answer 4

Well, an atom can lose an electron if you rub two things together. For example; if you rub a balloon on your head your hair sticks up, this is an example of the balloon losing it's atom.

Answer 5

It releases a photon equal in energy to its own energy drop.

Answer 6

If it is in an excited state it can loose energy by 'falling' back to its ground state while giving off energy, for example by emitting a photon.

Answer 7

i dont understand

Answer 8

Usually as a photon.