[dylancampbell]

Can anyone help me answer these questions:

1) Ionization energy is defined as the minimum energy required to remove an electron from the ground state (n0) to infinity (n∞). Determine the wavelength of radiation required to ionize the hydrogen electron from the n = 2 energy level. Calculate the energy (Joules) associated with this photon. (1 cm^-1 = 1.986 x 10^-23 J)


2) λ for one line of the hydrogen spectrum is .4118 x 10^-4 cm. Use this value in the Rydberg equation to calculate the RH value using n1 = 2, and n2 = 4.

[LQ43]

its a matter of plugging into the Rydberg equation for both and doing a little fancy algebra

1) remember in the Rydberg equation n2 is always > n1. In this question for the electron to be completely removed from n=2, what are the values for n1 and n2?

2) you have all the unknowns except for Rh,

[dylancampbell]

That is actually what I'm confused about on number 1. Does n1=0 and n2=2?

[dylancampbell]

And I'm still not getting question 2 right either...I've tried both the formula

1/λ=(Rh/hc)x(1/4-1/16) - the one my textbook gives

and

1/λ=Rh (1/4-1/16) - the one wikipedia has under the entry rydberg formula

and neither is working. which is the correct formula, and how exactly should the problems be set up?

[Borek]

Show your work.

[enahs]

Couple of quick things.

As Borek said show your work, that way we know if you are converting units correctly, or even remembering to do that.


And for question two, you said

0.4118 (10^-4) cm
^{Now, that number is not in inverse centimeters, make sure you realize that.}

[LQ43]

That is actually what I'm confused about on number 1. Does n1=0 and n2=2?

[quote author=dylancampbell 1) Ionization energy is defined as the minimum energy required to remove an electron from the ground state (n0) to infinity (n∞). Determine the wavelength of radiation required to ionize the hydrogen electron from the n = 2 energy level. Calculate the energy (Joules) associated with this photon. (1 cm^-1 = 1.986 x 10^-23 J)

[/quote]

instead of the ground state, you are ionizing from n=2 level to completely remove the electron, this is n=? (see above)

hopefully this will get you to the correct n1 and n2 values,