[aznpride2pac]

electrons at orbitals closer to the nucleus have higher or lower energy compared to electrons at orbitals farther away from the nucleus?

[Mitch]

Electrons near the nucleus have a greater mass-energy than those farther away.

[kkrizka]

I always thought that the electrons closer to the nuclei have less energy. Thus when you excite them, making them rise to a higher level by giving them more energy then later they give off the energy in the form of light as they return to the lower levels. Or is mass-energy something way different?