Question

Calculate the wavenumber of the spectral line of the shoretest wavelength in the balmer series of hydrogen spectrum ( given R=1.09×10⁷/m)

Answer 1

Answer: According to Balmer formula

ṽ=1/λ = RH[1/n12-1/n22]

For the Balmer series, ni = 2.

Thus, the expression of wavenumber(ṽ) is given by,

Wave number (ṽ) is inversely proportional to wavelength of transition. Hence, for the longest wavelength transition, ṽ has to be the smallest.

For ṽ to be minimum, nf should be minimum. For the Balmer series, a transition from ni = 2 to nf = 3 is allowed. Hence, taking nf = 3,we get:

ṽ= 1.5236 × 106 m–1