In the hydrogen atom, the energy of the electron in a given energy level is given by : #E_n= -R_H*(Z/n)^2#
#E_f= -R_H*(Z/n_f)^2#
#E_i= -R_H*(Z/n_i)^2#
#DeltaE=E_f-E_i #
#DeltaE=[-R_H*(Z/n_f)^2]-[ -R_H*(Z/n_i)^2] #
take # -R_H*(Z)^2# as a common factor,
#DeltaE=-R_H*(Z)^2[1/n_f^2-1/n_i^2] #
The energy of the photon emitted is given by:
#DeltaE=-hc/lambda#
please note that a negative sign must be introduced to the energy expression since energy is released.
combining the two equations gives:
#-hc/lambda=-R_H*(Z)^2[1/n_f^2-1/n_i^2] # (equation 1)
#h" is Planck's constant" = 6.626*10^-34 J.s #
#R_H" is Rydberg constant" = 2.178*10^-18 J #
#Z" is the atomic number of the hydrogen atom" = 1#
#n" is principle quantum number"#
#n_i " is the initial quantum state of the electron."#
#n_f =2#
plugging the numbers in (equation 1)
#-(6.626*10^-34 J.s*2.998*10^8 m/s) /(397.2*10^-9 m)=-2.178*10^-18 J*(1)^2[1/2^2-1/n_i^2] #
#-(6.626*10^-34 cancel(J).cancel(s)*2.998*10^8cancel(m)/cancel(s)) /(397.2*10^-9 cancel(m))=-2.178*10^-18 cancel(J)*(1)^2[1/2^2-1/n_i^2] #
solve for #n_i#,
#n_i= 7#
