Question

The highest excited state that an unexcited hydrogen atom can reach when they are bombarded with 12.2 eV electron is:

• A. n = 1
• B. n = 2
• C. n = 3
• D. n = 4

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

n = 3

Answer 2

E₁ = –13.6 eV. After absorption of 12.2 eV, energy of electron = –13.6 +12.2 = –1.4 eV

E_n = $\frac{E_{1}}{n^{2}}$ ⇒ n² = $\frac{- 13.6}{- 1.4}$ = 9.71 ∴ n = 3