IB Chemistry HL S1.3 practice question

Question 1

Multiple choiceMedium1 mark

Three groups of lines in hydrogen’s emission spectrum converge at different photon energies. For the group whose lines converge at the highest photon energy, which energy level do the transitions end at, and what is the maximum number of electrons that level can hold?

Show answer and explanation

Answer: A. The highest-energy convergence limit corresponds to transitions ending at the lowest energy level, $n=1$ Its maximum capacity is $2n^2=2(1)^2=2$ electrons.
B: assigns the limit to $n=2$ then correctly applies $2n^2$
C: assigns the limit to $n=3$ then correctly applies $2n^2$
D: identifies $n=1$ but omits the factor of 2 in the capacity relation.
Remember: the maximum number of electrons in level $n$ is $2n^2$

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