Consider the spectral line resulting from the transition n = 2 →n...
Consider the spectral line resulting from the transition n = 2 →n...
The spectral line resulting from the transition n = 2 refers to the emission or absorption of electromagnetic radiation when an electron transitions from a higher energy level to the second energy level (n = 2) in an atom or ion.
In the case of hydrogen, which has only one electron, the transition from n = 3 to n = 2 is known as the Balmer series and corresponds to visible light. The specific wavelength of the emitted or absorbed light can be calculated using the Rydberg formula:
1/λ = R * (1/n1^2 - 1/n2^2)
where λ is the wavelength, R is the Rydberg constant (approximately 1.097 x 10^7 m^-1), and n1 and n2 are the initial and final energy levels, respectively.
For the transition from n = 3 to n = 2 in hydrogen, the wavelength of the spectral line is approximately 656.3 nm, which falls in the red part of the visible spectrum.
For other elements, the transition from n = 2 can result in different spectral lines depending on the specific electron configuration and energy levels. These transitions can occur in the ultraviolet, visible, or infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. The exact wavelength of the spectral line will depend on the element and the specific transition being considered.