1. ENERGY LEVELS
AND
SPECTRA
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2. The Electromagnetic Spectrum
700 nm
400 nm
Visible
wavelength
frequency
Gamma
10-11 – m
Microwaves
cms
X-rays 10-9 – m
Radio m
IR – 10-7 m
UV – 10-9 m
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3. Continuous Spectrum from a hot solid or incandescent liquid
e.g. hot filament
Part of the Line Spectrum for
Hydrogen gas
Glowing gas
Line Spectrum,
unique to the gas
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4. THE HYDROGEN ATOM
Because energy within the atom is quantised, the electron can only occupy certain energy levels.
The electron is normally found in the lowest energy state, because this is the most stable. This is called the GROUND STATE.
The electron can be excited to higher energy levels electrically in a discharge tube or by heating.
Ionisation Energy
Given enough energy, the electron can be stripped away from the atom. IONISATION has occurred + e- e-
3rd Excited State e-
2nd Excited State e-
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1st Excited State e-

5. Excited electrons lose their excess energy as photons of electromagnetic radiation.+
Photon of electromagnetic radiation e- e- e-
Photon of electromagnetic radiation
Wave length of released photon
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6. The energy levels of en electron in a hydrogen atom can be represented by the formula:
in electron volts (eV)
(1 eV is the energy an electron would have if it had been accelerated through a p.d. of one volt. 1 eV = 1.6 x J)
For the ground state n = 1, so E = eV
For the first excited state n = 2, so E = eV
For the second excited state n = 3, so E = eV
For the third excited state n = 4, so E = eV
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7. En eV ionisation n = ∞ e- e- n = 4 e- e- n = 3 e- e- n = 2 n = 1 e-
n = ∞ e- e-
- 0.85
n = 4 e- e-
- 1.51
n = 3 e- e-
- 3.4
n = 2
- 13.6
n = 1
ground state
Spectrum λ
Lyman series in UV
BALMER series VISIBLE
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8. En eV
- 13.6
n = 1
ground state
- 1.51
n = 3
n = ∞
- 3.4
n = 2
- 0.85
n = 4
ionisation
N.B. All energies are NEGATIVE.
REASON: The maximum energy is the energy to ionise the electron. However an ionised electron feels no attraction to the nucleus so it must have zero potential energy.
It follows that energies less than the ionisation energy must be negative
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9. En eV
- 13.6
n = 1
ground state
- 1.51
n = 3
n = ∞
- 3.4
n = 2
- 0.85
n = 4
ionisation
QUESTION. The Paschen Series in the Hydrogen Spectrum refers to transitions down to the second excited state. These lines are in the Infra Red. Find the longest of these wavelengths.
This will involve the smallest energy change…. n = 4 to n = 3
ΔE = E4 – E3 = – (-1.51) = 0.66 eV x 1.6 x = x J
John Parkinson JP