Question

What is the energy of a hydrogen atom in the first excited state if the potential energy is taken to be zero in the ground state?

Answer 1

Answer:

The potential energy of a hydrogen atom is zero in ground state. An electron is board to the nucleus with energy 13.6 ev., Show we have to give energy of 13.6 ev. To cancel that energy. Then additional 10.2 ev. is required to attain first excited state. Total energy of an atom in the first excited state is = 13.6 ev. + 10.2 ev. = 23.8 ev.